This article reports on a study focussed on the identity formation of a second generation male Australian Chinese. Learning was a major part of his adult life: from poor beginnings he studied repeatedly to achieve his goals. It was posited that education was the potent force throughout the individual's development. The study, a life story, was underpinned by two theories: (i) "Psychological impact of biculturalism: evidence and theory" by La Fromboise et al. (1993) and (ii) "The seasons of a man's life" by Levinson et al. (1978). The factors explored were family and attachment, gender, ethnicity and religion. (Contains 1 figure.)