I was a top student, but at 40 I'm not yet rich

I was a top student in high school, attended a prestigious university, and landed a job at a major company. But now, at over 40, I'm not wealthy, just lower middle class.

Meanwhile, my cousins, now in their 30s, are rich. They were not top students and did not get into good companies at first. They started their own businesses, lost money, and even had to borrow from me.

A middle-aged man is sitting on a sofa, looking sad. Illustration photo by Pexels

Some of my older relatives, born in the 1970s, only finished high school and built their wealth from nothing. They did not push their kids (born in the 1990s and 2000s) to be top students. Instead, they encouraged them to socialize, learn comfortably, and stay humble.

I have also realized that many parents push their kids to excel in school not because it guarantees their future success but because it satisfies the parents' goals. Sometimes, parents do not know the right path for their children.

So my question is whether academic achievement guarantees success or not. Parents should think carefully about practical goals for their students to avoid pressuring their children into overstudying just so the parents can feel proud with some certificates.