There were lots of books around when I was growing up and not much else (including food/clothes/outings) I won a scholarship to a posh school at 10, and mum scrimped to make sure I had uniform and dinner money. Dad was alcoholic, nice man but … home life was difficult I learned to keep my head down, cloak of invisibility. From time to time a teacher would try to talk to me, but I revealed nothing. With hindsight maybe I should have opened up as there would have been help, but I didn't. I was not able, because of finances, to take advantage of the many extra curricular activities, and all in all it was a wary experience. But I did learn lots, not able to use it all until my late 20's when university opened up my career opportunities. Uni in your late 20's is quite different from late teens, and I did well. I still hide my childhood experiences.