At the time he was setting national records in track and field, one of You's friends remembers him for his development as a budding artist.
民國二十七年，他出生於台中市，兄弟姊妹七人，他排行老三。由於家境清苦，他還記得，上小學時，赤著腳，書本是用包袱布包著的，為賺取零用錢，他還當過小報童！