How I risked each semester’s refund checks on disciplined investments, strategic trades, and high-stakes decisions.
As a first-generation, low-income student, my parents didn't want me to make a custodial account (they were skeptical, which is very fair). But when I received my first scholarship checks (amounts for expenses), I funneled every cent into positions I’d researched. Those early wins fueled my conviction.
The real interesting part came when I didn't have campus housing, and I was using my scholarship money that was supposed to be used for housing and food. A total all-in with zero margin for error.
Why did I do it? Honestly, because I’d been paper-trading for years in high school and sharing stock ideas with friends who had custodial accounts (not financial advice—I was doing my best with what I knew then). I had a couple of big bets I’d been waiting to fund, specifically Palantir and NVIDIA. With work-study income and scholarships my first year, it felt like the right risk. I was effectively risking my everyday spending money, which meant I had to really trust the thesis.
When I moved off campus, the stakes got higher. I was literally risking rent—there were stretches where I might not have been able to afford housing or food because the cash was in the market. I’d joke with my roommates, “looks like I’m not paying rent this month,” when the S&P was down. It was a joke, but if something went sideways, it could’ve been true.
That pressure forced discipline. I read the markets every day, tracked events, and learned how much intuition matters in some of the plays—especially options. It’s part art, part science sometimes, tbh.
Freshman year, I finally opened my own brokerage at 18 and deployed my full COVID refund at $234/share. Without a fallback—this was rent money—I held through volatility and exited near $1,300.
My largest long-term win; proof that deep conviction pays off.
Junior year, with housing and food scholarships on the line, I traded Palantir from $8 into the $50s, and ran 0DTE options swings around $120—some returning 500–600% in days.
Volatility captured under real rent risk.
Food money turned into a $6/share stake in SoFi. I scaled out to cover groceries, but maintain a core position on long-term conviction.
Hunger-driven investing with discipline.
Last semester, targeted HIMS options during a biotech spike delivered an 800% return, all while my rent check was on the line.
High-risk, high-reward under pressure.
It really tested my patience and willingness to trust my position. Of course there were some losses with the options, but with long-term positions I have turned over multiple hundreds of percent in profit as an overall portfolio return. I have been able to use this money to travel for the first time outside the states. My favoriate vacation spot was Turks & Caicos. All thanks to the stock market.
Numerous semesters I wouldn't know sometimes if I could pay my next rent, but with careful investing and allocation of my capital, it worked out.