Your conservative pep talk is several years too late for this flaming socialist.
Baloney! Kennedy honed his character in the South Pacific and on the grid iron at Harvard. He suffered through a dibilitating disease. Jackson fought the British and won against insurmountable odds honing his character and leadership in the process. Lincoln taught himself law and read the Bible cover to cover by candlelight. He fought the indians in the frontier wars in Kentucky and Illinois.
Obama applied for and got scholarships based on affirmative action. He was black when it advantaged him. It’s not the same thing.