9781422287248

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Ambi t ion

seemingly endless ambition. According to the company’s website, AVOS aims to, “help developers create fun and beautiful apps faster than ever.” Apps, short for applications, are programs that are used on mobile devices and computers. Steve has accomplished a lot—but it didn’t come easily. He needed to overcome a lot of trials to get to where he is today. His first few years were not spent in the United States, but in Taiwan. In order to succeed, he needed to really push himself outside of his comfort zone. His story proves that amazing success can come out of great determination! CHILDHOOD Steve was born on August 18, 1978, in Taipei, Taiwan, and he spent the first few years of his life there. As an adult, he admitted, “I don’t remem- ber much from Taiwan.” His knowledge of the language and culture of Taiwan is limited. “A lot of what I ended up learning is through trips back there,” he said. As an adult, he believes his Chinese language skills are at a first-grade level. Steve and his family lived in Taiwan until he was eight years old, and then they immigrated to the United States. “The reason why we came to the U.S. was led by my father,” Steve explained. According to Steve, his father, who was in the trading business, “was asked to start a branch in New York or Chicago, and he ended up choosing Chicago.” The Chen family left Tai- wan as Steve was entering second grade. At the time of Steve’s arrival in the United States, he spoke absolutely no English. His father began working at his new office, while his mother stayed home to take care of Steve and his younger brother. Steve did not attend a special school or program for children who did not know English; he was put right into a typical Chicago classroom and forced to learn on his own. Life in the United States was difficult for Steve at first. His father’s choice to live in Chicago made a big difference to Steve’s family. If they had lived in a city like New York, for example, they could have joined a large