Yeah I really get that about the guy lying about his degree in the moment to fit in. I would’ve understood that although probably would’ve thought it was sad he couldn’t be true to himself/pitied him.

Your aunt sounds like mine possibly, my cousin’s wife was a teaching assistant but my aunt would say she was a teacher, again I thought that was sad as teaching assistant is a good job to be proud of. My aunt embellishes a lot and exaggerates, I never really thought about it as lying but I guess it technically was.