My father came to America with a suitcase and a thousand dollars in cash. He lived in a house in Farmingdale, Long Island for about 1 month. He worked at a banking company for about six years before his life changed. He was introduced by his friend to join PaineWebber, a stock brokerage and asset management firm. It was located in New Jersey, right across the river.

My father managed to establish his livelihood through this job opportunity. He started working there since 1987. “This job has turned my life around,” he told me. He managed to earn enough salary to support himself and his family.

In 2000, PaineWebber was acquired by UBS AG. My father has worked there for over twenty four years. The building was very close to his old office building and he would never forget this place. It was right near the water’s edge. “Without this company (PaineWebber) I would have never been able to have a family.”