I'm a single mom with 2 kids in college. My divorce devastated me financially, so I feel guilty I can't help with their tuition.

Fertnig/Getty Images

Growing up, I didn't know anyone who worked in an office, had never heard of a marketing department, and couldn't tell you what "CEO" stood for if my life depended on it. Three of my closest childhood friends were parents before they were 17, and the biggest goal of anyone I knew was graduating from high school. Most of my relatives made ends meet with blue-collar jobs like waitressing and construction. Going to college seemed downright revolutionary.