Are you better off economically than your parents were at this point in your life?

[lapislzi]

47. Vastly better off than my parents

Except I know that this has not very much to do with me, my abilities, or other factors within my control. I had some tremendously lucky breaks in my life. I am a beneficiary of white privilege--doors were open to me that probably remained closed to others of equal or greater ability. I do work hard, and I've tried to make the most of the opportunities I was given. But those couple of lucky breaks (a wealthy relation paid off my student loans; a great mentor believed in me enough to offer me a job that I wasn't yet qualified to do) were what got the ball rolling for me. Yes, I'm smart, but dumb luck is also a big part of my story. Smart, dumb luck, and the right color. Take away any one of those, and who knows who or where I'd be.

My parents never had opportunities like that--or, the opportunities they were offered, were squandered. Foolishly, my father never took advantage of the GI bill when he returned from WW2. My mom was never able to rise above entry-level jobs, despite being smarter than most of the people she worked for. Health issues (mental and physical), lack of initiative, and, eventually, the poverty cycle, held them back.

That's why I'm never without 2 or 3 proteges. Be good to the people on the way up. You're likely to meet them on the way down.