Privilege or luck of the draw ? If you were born in a small town , you either made a decision to stay there, or move away and pursue an education. If your parents felt education was worthwhile, then you had support, although not necessarily financial. If your friends had the same goals then you tended to gravitate towards them. If your personality was the type that when a door of opportunity opened, you were able to make the proper evaluations and take opportunities if they were for you. Inherited money while nice, should not have been your long term plan, and you had a long term plan. Privilege or just taken advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves. Back in the day, high school was the bare minimum, and university or college was the key to opening more doors. Today university and college are the entry levels to a successfull career, but it is and has always been about choices you make, starting in your teens. Some people however are dealt a bad hand, but that's life.