I took a job I enjoyed right out of high school and kept getting promoted and learning new skills. Then I was able to transition to higher level jobs based on my experience. It's frustrating now because so many job sites list a BA as a screening requirement. This means they'll never see my resume despite the fact that I have done the exact job they are advertising for 10+ years and am extremely knowledgeable in my field. There was a long period of time where I made a lot more money than my friends who were in school and subsequently graduated with limited work experience. So I haven't felt personally lacking because I don't have a degree (I'm a voracious non-fiction reader and attend lectures and classes on a variety of topics), but it is now biting me in the ass when it comes to job searching.