In life, especially in America we all may not have access to the same opportunities, but we all (those without mental/physical limitations) have control over our drive and dedication to accomplishing the unexpected and not falling into a state of complacency. The old cliché of, "birds of a feather flock together" can came off as un-true in a particular circumstance and that's when we examine the friend that didn't make it.
Their is always at least one friend who settled, and didn't live up to what they could have been. While your friends went to college or followed their dreams in whatever arena they may be in, you settled for the nice 12-15$ hour job, or working multiple jobs in the upwards of 50-70 hours a week. Your financial situation may seem as it's flourishing, but you aren't happy and satisfied where life is going. You're at a job where you don't have much independent flexibility, you're tired constantly, and you don't see much progression, but the friends you've grown up with are starting to graduate, attend graduate schools, and are seeing the dreams that they followed begin to take off.
Look in the mirror then look at your friends from a distance and ask yourself, "how did I become the friend that didn't make it?" Mind you success can equate to monetary value, individual utility, or the number of lives you've motivated to do better. At the end of the day you define success, but a life where you have doubts about missed opportunities is one that can be looked at as wasted. When choosing the people who you allocate your time with you can either pick friends that'll motivate you to do more, or you can choose individuals who do want to amount to much and will make you look better.
As long as your name isn't on the obituary page you still have a chance to create legacy, opportunity, history not only for others, or your family, but ultimately yourself. When people say your name, your job title, or the number of children you have shouldn't be followed by a period, but a comma. Others should be able to read your resume on the fly, when you make an entrance an introduction shouldn't be needed, because you're already known. While the ones you grew up with are creating legacies for their name and doing what most won't, don't be stuck falling into the hopeless, complacent, and forgotten majority.
Aspire to be better, don't settle for what they will give you, but go after the things that they are reluctant to share.