There are different "paths" with different environments (parents).

I had plenty of time, and my parents were rather open regarding hobbies/extracurricular activities.

But they soon had "given up" on making me do thigs, caused by me quitting everything that wasn't novel and dismissing their "inputs". My father is also a generalist, and was never keen on getting focused on single skills (he has some mad skills on some fields though, e.g. swimming, and that took quite some time and effort).

And although we were not poor, my father thought that hobbies don't have to be expensive, quite the opposite for kid's hobbies in fact (but we had our fair share of expensive hobbies and gear: snowboarding and bikes and unicycles and sailing and what not).

But most prominently, being a kid of the eighties, and dur to my parents working with "IT-People" in their job, they thought computers were not at all a desirable past time for a kid/teenager (despite my very urgent interest). A waste of time, either toy or nerd-tool. Somewhat what people previously thought of books.

So my biggest interest (programming) was always something I was myself dismissing and even avoiding for a few very important years, and I spent most of my time as a teenager in front of a TV, gaming or partying/meeting with friends outdoors.

I could have spent that time... differently, and I am not blaming anyone, not my parents and not me. I had a good time, but I might have appreciated a little guidance/company.

I just want to say I know why I was not a mad hacker at 17 - small details in paths are waiting everywhere, and there are more exceptions than rules.

I would add to that list (35 years ago) - girlfriends.

This takes a lot of time too - when you are with them, and then also when you are not, but your brain is still with them anyway.

My uncle raised his kids similarly, "they have to always be doing something!" with the side effect being that they sunk thousands of hours into learning skills that served no intellectual/real life purpose (beyond team building), and took time away from their actual interests. One was interested in building drones, but spent his time hitting balls with a stick, instead. Anytime I need someone to hit things with sticks, I call him. I haven't had to yet, but one of these days!

Every success story, intellectual or not, involves passion and time. I'll never comprehend the mindset that completely prevents a kid from experiencing both.