As far back as I can remember, my parents always stressed the importance of an education. My mother was an English teacher, and my father worked in finance. They came from a 3rd world country, worked hard, and put my brother and I through school.

I love them dearly for that. Many people in this world, including many of my friends, grew up in single parent homes or were not pushed to succeed by parents that stressed the importance of an education. To be sure, many of these same friends who did not have the benefit of encouraging parents still received excellent educations, great careers, and have gone on to start families of their own.

Now, I am a firm believer in education as instrumental to success. I have an undergrad degree and a graduate degree as well. However, I do not necessarily believe that one must get educated and acquire skills through expensive universities. Looking back on the past 15 years or so, I wondered what I would tell my former self with the benefit of hindsight.