I dated a girl who went to MIT at the end of high school, myself as a drop out. If not for her I’d probably not have considered education seriously. “Why would anyone go to more school?” was my attitude. She never pushed me to do anything, but imagining her trajectory was inspiring. She’d had immigrant parents who got educated in the US. 8 years later I finished a bachelor’s degree, full time during my major courses. My path gets no love from the outside, but I am happy with it when compared to outcomes of others sofar from similar backgrounds.