It’s a long, sad story (bring a hanky), but I never got any formal sheepskins. In fact, I have a GED, as I dropped out of high school. Used to bother me, especially when looking up people’s noses, but it never actually had much negative impact on my career.
In fact, if I think about it, it’s probably the opposite.
No one has ever “cut me slack,” or “taken my word,” because I had the right school tie. My aspect didn’t help, either. I was often quite blunt, and had to learn the art of verbal communication (which I overlearned, as you can’t shut me up, these days). I’ve had to prove myself, every step of the way. This meant that I rapidly learned to deliver, even if it came with a dose of “screw you; top this.” So I’ve been delivering finished product (often under active attempts to interfere), my entire adult life. That counts for something.
Sort of like a dork version of Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue” song. “That which does not kill you, makes you stronger.” (or leaves you weak and exhausted).
But that also means that anger informed my approach to life, for many years. I had to learn to let go of that, in my late twenties. Difficult job, but I had good support, and good tools (part of the long story).
I’ve found that anger (“spite,” as the author calls it) was very good fuel, but also highly corrosive to its container (that’s me). I really needed to put it aside.
In the aggregate, I’m glad everything went the way it did, as it got me where I am, but the journey has been “interesting.”
I wish the author well; however, I’ve learned that life is not a series of milestones, but a continuum, with serendipity playing a huge role. Also, my ability to relate to others has been incredibly important, and did not come naturally. I had to learn to get along. Trying to force the direction of my life actually interfered with that.
But, as always, WFM. YMMV.