I flunked out of school, low level community college. Just before I did, I subconsiously decided to 'drop' my old friends for new friends, who were all doing advanced education. All I wanted was to become an intellectual, but I failed at a lower level vocational school.

I had dreams for years about having to take an exam and getting into an argument with the teacher. I was the shy or polite kid, but had a rebellious streak. And somehow I got an unfair test, or I would start doing something strange.

Now my peers age-wise have postdoc positions or are just entering tenure track. My actual peers are bachelor students. I went back to school after 8 or 9 years. I don't even know how many years passed. Then to university within two years. I stopped having dreams about teachers or exams.

All I want now is to stay ahead of my actual peers, which is a challenge as they, unlike me, are talented and dynamic people with flexible brains that are like spounges.

As for you, as you have graduated, I am not sure why you are looking back. It sounds like you think you are having a hard time because of shaky foundations. I wouldn't worry about entering the working force 1 or 2 or 3 years later than anticipated. There is some advantage to that, maybe. There is this sweet spot of ideal hiring age. Maybe it is 26-28, I am not sure. Below that, people on average may be too immature. And applying for a job at 26-28 when you have been jobless for the last 2 years is way worse than being that same age, and having just graduated. You immediately want to get the proper type of starter job after graduating.

But the age thing depends a bit on the job. For some jobs, people won't take you seriously if you are too young. Who really wants to be treated by a doctor who is 28 but looks 24 to you if you are 50 years old?

On my first day at university, we were split in groups to be introduced to the cmapus and our first project. One guy in my group was explaining his background. He was explaining some education delays: "I am old. I am already 21 *emberrased laugh". Yes, he was 3 years older than most. I didn't tell them I was 31.