28 here and make ~$140k/yr as an independent contractor after 3 years of an apprenticeship (first year unpaid) working in a field completely unrelated to my BA (music research) or my MS (alzheimer research). Put myself through undergrad and took out a modest $45k loan to support myself for grad school and to fund some fun diving expeditions. My wife did it similar, she makes $100k/yr in a state job as an educator after ten years as an elementary school teacher barely above poverty level wages. Starter home (~$370k) is paid off and we're looking to rent it out and upgrade (~$550k) living in Southern California driving new cars and toys and vacationing 3x per year. We both have about 1.5 months off per year. Technically unlimited time off for me!

I feel lucky in the sense to have had fortunate timing, but I wouldn't call my hard work, commitment to development and pursuit of bettering myself lucky. I feel accomplished and am damned proud of my wife and I, both our mothers are immigrants whom married enlisted GI's who are both disabled vets that worked 2-3 jobs to support their families after their service. I studied hard in High School and finished with an AA degree, worked hard in my undergrad supporting myself and doing what I wanted to do (psychoacoustics) knowing it wouldn't get me the type of financial return I want/need for the lifestyle I want to have. Still dedicated years towards it and enjoyed every minute of it. I moved overseas and studied hard at a top ranked Uni traveling around Europe and picked up ship wreck diving as a hobby. Most importantly I've found the hard work satisfying. And it doesn't end, I'm taking my LSAT in June.

I have sympathy for me peers but believe there to be an overwhelming number of 'bad' apples, so to speak, which I believe connects to the failed parenting the speaker touches on in the video.