An Australian teenager who was expelled from eight different schools has spoken out about how his life has turned around as he celebrates making his first million.
David Chahine, 27, from Western Sydney, was told by his teachers he would never amount to anything and admitted his behaviour left his parents “heartbroken”.
But when he was 13, Mr Chahine was enrolled in the Waratah Centre in Telopea, a school dedicated to helping students with emotional and behavioural disorders.
“I remember one teacher telling me that if I continued to behave like that, I would probably end up cleaning up trash,” Chahine said.
Chahine said her life changed when teachers offered her the chance to go on a school trip to the snow, but only on the condition that she change her behavior.
“We had this program at school where they would do activities… and one of them was going to the snow,” Chahine said.
“At that time my dream was to go to the snow. I remember that all I had to do was behave and I did.”
With the help of his parents and the Waratah Centre, Mr Chahine was able to refocus and succeed.
David Chahine, 27, owner of glass company Primal Glass Replacement, celebrated making his first million dollars despite being expelled from eight different schools.
In 2020, Mr Chahine launched his company Primal Glass Replacement, which is now on track to generate $1 million in revenue this financial year.
He credited the trip to the snow as the catalyst that changed his life.
“I went to the snow and it changed my life completely,” Chahine said.
“The trip to the snow showed me that if you listen, behave and follow the rules, life will open up for you.”
Mr Chahine started a glass repair business straight out of school and after years of building a clientele across Western Sydney, business is booming.
The company, Primal Glass Replacement, currently makes more than $5,000 a week and recently made its first million.
With his newfound success, he even bought himself a BMW M3.
“It makes me feel proud of myself, it makes me think that anything is possible. I now realise that if you keep your head down, work hard and do it with all your heart, dreams do come true,” he said.
Mr Chahine wants to inspire other children who are struggling at school and has visited the Waratah Centre again to encourage students to “find something they enjoy”.
David Chahine, owner of Primal Glass Replacement, was told he would never make it in school and now makes $5,000 a week.
She now wants to inspire other children who are struggling at school and has visited the Waratah Centre to encourage students to “find something they enjoy”.
“Just find something you can imagine yourself doing. Make sure you enjoy it, because you’ll be doing it every day for the rest of your life,” Chahine said.
He also shared some important tips.
‘Be passionate about what you do and make sure it’s a skill set you can find on your own, i.e. learn, acquire and maintain.
“Never give up. That’s one of the most important things. That’s what worked for me.”
David Chahine with Waratah Centre Director Greg Fuchs
David Chahine with students from Waratah Centre in the snow
Director Greg Fuchs recalls that David arrived when he was 13.
“David was a huge, brilliant ball of energy,” she said.
‘He came in every day with a smile on his face, but he was brash, disobedient, he was defiant, he refused to do his schoolwork at first, he refused to sit at his desk. But, you know, this was all part of his journey.
“Watching David’s success and seeing him drive back to school in his fancy car makes me smile because we were a part of that journey and had a lasting effect on him and what he has become.”
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