Offline and offsite storage (i.e. iron mountain) is a simple (though sometimes costly) way of doing things.

it'll solve this problem quite easily.

I come from poor white trash, but I worked hard - got a Ph.D. from a top English university (I grew up in Canada), and now I work in DC as an overpaid consultant. I drive a fully paid for BMW, am looking out my window at an awesome view of the Capitol Building as I type this.

Hard work does indeed pay off, but you also need to make smart long term decisions with it.

Regarding the nurse and teacher - they do what they do because they like it. I understand, I volunteer 700+ hours as a firefighter in one of the rural communities here.

Work hard, but find a balance - that's the key to success / happiness.

While you're spending all your time in front of the keyboard becoming a non-provable top 5% (busy work is boring to you - but grades are important to employers), prob the rest of the class are out drinking, having fun and getting laid.

And by laid, I mean with actual 3d live humans who don't ask for a credit card number before they talk to you.

Well, I did.

But her avatar kept asking for my credit card number.