But fate had other plans. Stricken with systemic lupus erythematosus, the frail Yu left school at age nine to help her family sell vegetables and to do odd jobs. She refused, however, to take her situation lying down. Driven by a never-give-up attitude, she tested into Taipei First Girls 'High School's night school, and later majored in law at National Chung Hsing University.
無奈又罹患先天紅斑性狼瘡，身體孱弱，9 歲就休學在家，幫忙賣菜、做小工，後來還是靠著不服輸的個性，才考上北一女補校進修，並於中興大學法律系畢業。