The Underdog Truth

At first glance, life seems pretty fair. But if you look a little closer, you’ll see the playing field isn’t exactly level. Some people are born with a head start, while others are still tying their shoes when the race begins.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much of our lives are shaped by things we don’t get to choose where we’re born, what kind of school we attend, the language we grow up speaking, or how much our parents can afford. These might seem like background details, but they often end up shaping everything that follows.

Let’s be real luck matters more than we like to admit.
Being born into the right family, in the right place, at the right time can give someone a massive leg up. Some kids grow up with parents who already have successful careers and networks. Others have to figure everything out from scratch.
Malcolm Gladwell, in Outliers, talks about how success isn’t just about talent or hard work. It’s also about hidden advantages like getting early access to quality education, or just being in the right environment at the right moment.

When I think about my own life, I know I’ve been lucky in many ways. I went to a school where I picked up fluent English, and that one thing made a huge difference. A lot of my friends didn’t have that opportunity. They’re just as smart and capable, but I see them struggle not because they’re lacking, but because the system didn’t offer them the same support. I’m deeply grateful for what I had, and it constantly reminds me not to take it for granted.

Take college admissions, for example. Getting into a good university is often seen as a result of pure merit how hard you worked, how smart you are. But that’s only part of the story.
The truth is, access to the right resources makes a huge difference. Coaching classes, guidance, mentorship, even just knowing which books to study or how the system works it all adds up.
A 2018 report showed that 97% of students who got into IITs had some form of coaching or tuition. Only 3% made it without any extra help. That’s a staggering number. It shows that success in these exams isn’t just about intelligence it’s about the support system behind you. While some students climb a staircase, others are trying to scale a wall with no ladder.

Still, I don’t want this to sound like a hopeless rant. The world can be unfair, yes, but there are people who have broken through the odds.
Sam Altman wrote something that stuck with me:

If you aren't born lucky, you have to claw your way up for awhile before you can take big swings... But I've witnessed enough people be born with the deck stacked badly against them and go on to incredible success to know it's possible.

That really resonated. It’s harder without a head start, no doubt. But it’s not impossible. There’s hope, even when the system feels rigged.

Until then, If you’ve had any advantage, try to help someone who didn’t. If you’re the underdog, don’t stop fighting you’re not alone. Let’s stop pretending life is equal for everyone and start working to make it fairer.