My friends, it is 11PM now in New York City - on a Sunday night. So many things have flashed back in front me, since many many years ago graduated from a Chinese high school as an outcast, and ventured in nyc as a business school undergrad and finally today working on wall st.
There is nothing technical that I can share. But only feelings. And maybe a little wisdom.

First, be different. In high school physics class I never though I learned anything from this senior year teacher, "Zhang". So I decided to do whatever I want during class. And one day he got iritated and condemned in front of whole class of other 60 kids, "oh... so you think you are darn good right? You think you don't need to learn anything any more?!"
Hardly with a silence or pause, I responded, "Indeed", I nodded and looked right into that mediocre person, "I think I am good."
I think? Well GOD I AM GOOD. He was furious and asked me to leave the room and I did.

Many years later I would absolutely do the same in a heartbeat.