Koolau
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I differ with those who attribute everything to luck, as they tend to assume that the "luck" that benefits someone is always "good luck". But there were many instances where I experienced "bad Luck" than in the long run turned out to bring me to a more successful path than the "good luck" would have.
Have you considered that your saving grace or good luck may have been your parents who as strivers had set expectations for what they wanted for their son? I’ve volunteered with refugee families and I have seen great success stories across the board from the children who like you lived in tough urban areas and went to the same rough schools some of the people you described came from.
This discussion takes me back to the Zen Master story in Charlie Wilson's War. As always, YMMV.