This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Fiona Li, a director of marketing at an AI startup. Li graduated from the University of California, Davis, in 2023. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. My mom raised me as a single parent, and I didn't want her to pay for school. I did have financial aid, but it only covers so much of the rent. I wanted to save money and also attend school, so I looked to scale my career. I consistently compared myself to students from