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Unleashing the hero within

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From zero to hero - this pretty much describes the story of Matthew Lui Yue-chun, who went from being a gang member to a respected public figure. Known as 'Zero Boy', Lui scored zilch in his first attempt at the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE). It became a defining moment for him. Today, he holds two master's degrees and a PhD. He works as a financial planner and part-time as a principal and teacher at an education centre.

How did you become Zero Boy?

My father was a drug addict and I grew up in a public housing estate, living off social welfare. With this kind of start, I told myself I had every excuse to do poorly at school. I was a triad member and was expelled from school on a number of occasions. I worked as a printing apprentice after quitting Form Four. The working conditions were unbearable, so I decided to attend night school and sit the HKCEE. I was such a poor student that I scored zero in the exam.

What inspired you to turn things around?

With my zero grade, I went to interview for a job as a messenger. When they asked me to fill in an application form, I was stunned because it was in English and I didn't even know how to write my address. When the employer looked at my embarrassing application form, he said: 'What makes you think you qualify for this job?' That was a wake-up call for me because I couldn't even become a messenger. I knew that I had to do something.

A friend from church was kind enough to support me to study again, and this time I gave my best effort and scored 19 points in my second HKCEE attempt. I went on to university, and graduated with a first class honours degree.

How did you become a financial planner?

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