A year passed in the blink of an eye. Yet, amidst all the fleeting moments, there was one thing that weighed heavily on my mind: the desire to become rich. I knew it was the only way to change my life, to escape the struggles of the past, and to build a future that wasn't limited by financial hardship.
In my past life, our family faced constant challenges. My mother worked tirelessly, juggling multiple jobs just to put food on the table and keep the roof over our heads. My older brother, too, sacrificed his own education to support us by working part-time. And as for me, I managed to graduate from college with my mother's support. But the degree I earned wasn't exactly the best. I had to choose a path that was affordable, not the one I truly wanted, because pursuing a degree that was truly worth studying required far more money than we could ever have dreamed of.
To make ends meet, I started participating in competitions. It wasn't much, but it was something. It gave me a small sense of financial independence and allowed me to start saving. However, even the winnings from these competitions couldn't keep up with the ever-increasing cost of living. As inflation continued to rise, my savings began to feel less and less significant. I knew I needed more than just small victories. I needed something bigger.
That's when I realized that my journey to financial freedom would involve more than just competition prizes. I had to think strategically, to use every opportunity that came my way to get ahead. And the first step toward that was my summer trip in 2007.
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It was the summer break of 2007 when I asked my mom for permission to visit my older sister, Cassandra, who lived in the bustling city of C with her family. I knew that Cassandra was the perfect person to be my accomplice. She had always been someone I could rely on, and I needed her help with a plan that could change everything.
When I first arrived in City C, I spent the first few weeks exploring. I visited scenic spots, tried local delicacies, and got closer to my sister and her family. It was a refreshing escape from the stresses of daily life, and I cherished the moments we spent together before the new school year began. June 4 was just around the corner, marking the end of my vacation and the beginning of another chapter.
On June 2, just two days before I was supposed to leave, I decided it was time to share my plan with Cassandra.
"Sister Cassie, I want to try my luck and bet in the lotto. It seems fun, don't you think?" I asked, a mix of excitement and mischief in my voice.
She raised an eyebrow but, to my surprise, agreed. "The lotto? Well, if you really want to, go ahead. It's just for fun."
She handed me the ticket, and I carefully chose my six numbers. Now, I had a secret advantage. Being from the future, I knew the exact numbers that would be drawn. Thanks to my research in my previous life, I remembered the winning combination with perfect clarity. As I held the ticket, I felt a surge of anticipation. This could be my chance—my real chance.
I tucked the ticket away safely, knowing that it would take some time before the results were announced. I didn't plan to claim my winnings right away. I had to be cautious. After all, I couldn't risk drawing attention to myself just yet. I decided to wait until I was closer to home, and until the right moment arrived. The clock was ticking, but I had time on my side.
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A few months passed. The city had been a welcome distraction, but I had work to do. I had participated in several competitions and won a few modest prizes, but I needed more. Then, just as I had hoped, a competition was announced in City A. It was the perfect excuse for me to return and claim my winnings.
As I made my way back home, I purchased a newspaper and scanned the front page. There it was—*the* headline that would change everything. Someone had won the lotto. I felt a rush of excitement. I knew that the money was mine.
The lotto officials were notoriously secretive about their winners, and that worked in my favor. I didn't have to worry about anyone connecting me to the prize. I knew the right time would come to claim it, but for now, I kept my secret close to my chest.
The time came sooner than I expected. After winning my latest competition, I decided it was time to confess to my sister. She had no idea what was coming.
I called her and asked her to meet me at our place. When she arrived, I could see the confusion in her eyes. It had only been a few months since my last visit, and now I was back with a strange request.
"So, what's going on?" she asked, trying to figure out the purpose of my visit.
I took a deep breath, then looked at her seriously. "Sister, I need to tell you something important."
She looked at me, her curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
"I need you to come with me tomorrow. We're going to the Lotto Center," I said.
She blinked, clearly surprised. "To the Lotto Center? But why? Don't lotto winners claim their own prizes?"
I smiled, knowing this would be a lot for her to process. "It's not the competition prize I'm going for. It's my lotto winnings. Remember when I went on vacation here in June? I bought a lotto ticket, and I won."
Her eyes widened. "What?!"
I quickly shushed her. "Keep it quiet, okay? It's more than 120 million."
She froze, her mouth agape. "120 million?!" she whispered, almost too shocked to speak.
I nodded. "Yes, and that's why I need you with me. I can't claim it alone. I'm still underage, and I need your help to do this legally."
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The next day, we went to the Lotto Center. I had the winning ticket, and everything went smoothly. We were able to claim the check, and with my sister as the adult consigner, I deposited the 120 million into my bank account. The excess cash we took home, and I gave a portion to my sister as a thank-you for her support.
But that wasn't the end of it. I knew that if I wanted to make this money grow, I needed to invest wisely. So, I asked Cassandra to help me open a stock account. With my future knowledge, I knew exactly which companies to invest in—Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and others that would thrive in the years to come. It was the perfect plan.
2007 came to an end, but it was just the beginning of a new era for me. The following years were filled with investments, property deals, and stock market success. It was an eventful and exciting time, and by 2009, I had already seen significant growth in my wealth.
Then came Bitcoin. I had known about it from my future knowledge, and I didn't hesitate to get in on the ground floor. I bought a computer, set up my account, and began mining. I watched as my investment grew, just like I had predicted.
As the years passed, my financial success continued to grow. The lessons I had learned and the investments I had made had set me on the path to wealth. Now, as I entered the final year of primary education, I couldn't help but think about the long journey ahead. The future was mine to shape, and I was just getting started.