David Chiu

Today I leave my 20’s and enter into the big three-oh. I can’t believe I’m that old. I don’t feel 30.

So do I have to be an adult now? Do I have to be more mature?

Luckily, I’m Asian - and I’m skinny which means I will always look at least 5-8 years younger than I actually am.

The scoreboard so far (since entering my 20’s):

Laid off 3 times, moved from Delaware to Utah to Califorina, learned how to “surf” a mountain, got fired for hacking a computer system, advanced from a lowly programmer to Technical Director, turned down 2.4 million dollars worth of stock options, rode the “dot-com” ride, got a commercial agent, got a modeling agent, got a theatrical agent, tried to hit-on Alicia Silverstone (don’t ask), tore my hamstring, learned horseback riding, was offered (and refused) a $120k “Director of Special Operations” dream job, got a dog, got married to my fantasy girl, honeymooned in Tahiti, went to the ER twice for panic attacks, got into spoken word poetry, started another company (this time with my wife), bought a house, gained 15lbs, lost 20lbs, had a small speaking role on General Hospital, landed a gig as a host on a late night gen-x show called “IZ”, auditioned and rejected for NUMEROUS TV shows and movie roles, tried stand-up comedy, wrote and performed an autobiographical performance piece, cried on-stage, grew my hair long, shaved my head, grew my hair long again, and overall, managed to stay healthy, get stronger, and not have any major accidents or disasters in my life.

Lessons I learned in my 20’s:

• “Adults” are not as smart as I thought they were when I was a kid.
• “Adults” are not as strong as I thought they were when I was a kid.
• America is not as smart or as strong as I thought when I was a kid.
• There is no security in any job, no matter what market.
• It’s better to express your feelings than to keep it locked up inside.
• My heritage is something to be proud of and embrace instead of hide.
• My wife is ALWAYS right!
• It’s better to be myself than to try to be somebody else.
• There’s a lot of stupid people out there in the world.