a couple decades ago, i was in the weird position of living in a low income location, but went to an upper class school district.

all my peers had TONS of money, and it was the last thing on their mind. for me, we had just went through bankruptcy and were eating like shake n back chicken with kraft mac n cheese each night, ya know?

i never went to college, as i did not have the money nor was able to pay for all bills + college, and a loan didn't quite make sense. i had high SAT scores and graduated a year early having been in a few clubs, attended a few competitions, and winning some dumb awards. all the foundations were there for a 'good making', except the most important:

money

not to sound like a total asshole, but many of my dull and rather stupid peers are now doctors (god help us), engineers, higher up corporate workers, startup owners, etc... making a lot of money, owning a house, having a family, all at the ripe age of 20-somethin'. I mean... good for them, but goddamn does it all make me angry sometimes.

what did they all have in common? money.

they all were able to go to fantastic colleges, focus on college, and then have financial assistance from their parents.

it was the entry door for synthetic success.