GenerationGrit

Tough childhood made her hungry for success

After her father died when she was 14, Ms Michelle Lee's family had little to go on. She did odd jobs and later even paid her way through university. Today, she runs her own business. This is the latest in a series on millennials who are inspiring amid adversity.

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Ms Michelle Lee lost her father to lung cancer. Her mother was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. She had to put herself through school and found success as an estate planner.
Ms Michelle Lee took up a series of odd jobs from the age of 14 to help support her mother and three younger siblings after her father died. By 18, she had saved $20,000 - enough money to help pay her way through university. She said she valued the p
Ms Michelle Lee took up a series of odd jobs from the age of 14 to help support her mother and three younger siblings after her father died. ST PHOTO: JOEL CHAN
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She may be a successful woman now, having carved a career in the insurance business and now with her own estate planning company.

But it has been a hard slog for Ms Michelle Lee, 31.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 23, 2020, with the headline Tough childhood made her hungry for success. Subscribe