I was born in Los Angeles, California, and had a very unhappy childhood because my parents often fought, and I frequently felt lonely. When I was nine, my parents divorced. Then I moved with my mother to Jakarta, Indonesia. I became a foreigner. My growing years were filled with insecurity, because the language, culture, and school all changed. In order to adapt, I gradually became compromising and eager to please others.

I was the only boy in my family, with two sisters much older than me, and from childhood I developed a self-indulgent and dependent personality. My father was strict and often disciplined me by scolding or hitting, so I rarely liked talking with him. Because my sisters were much older, there were many things I could not talk about with them. Friends suddenly became the most important people in my life, and I thought they understood me best. After eighth grade, I began to dislike going home and often stayed out late with classmates.