It sounds like you’ve had a fine life, and I wish you the best in the rest of your retirement.
However, life was different when you were 17 than it is for today’s 17-year-olds.
My 21-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter both applied for summer jobs as Lowe’s Hardware during a job fair at the community college they both attended. He was called the same day, and she never heard from them. The difference was that Lowe’s liability insurer would let a 21-year-old drive a forklift, but not a 19-year-old.
She ended up joining the Marine Corps. Hoo-ah, Lcpl. Elen!
I was never fond of being in the military. It's just not my style. However, I think the military does a pretty good job of recognizing and rewarding merit. This is probably more true today than when I faced the prospect of being drafted.
Some 21-year-olds probably shouldn't be allowed near a fork-lift and some 19-year-olds would probably do fine. You only have to be 25 to be a member of Congress. If I thought being older would improve the situation I would support that.
A friend of mine has a son who is a "retired" Marine. He now works as a warehouse manager. Next time I see him I will ask. It wouldn't surprise me if he started driving a fork lift at 17 when he enlisted.