I was kicked out of high school, so I turned to the Marines for a way forward. Now, I'm a corporate lawyer with degrees from Stanford and Harvard.

• Andrew Hanson, now a lawyer, overcame a troubled youth by joining the Marine Corps.
• Hanson pursued education post-military, earning degrees from Stanford and Harvard.
• He now practices law at Skadden and earns a salary in the mid-six figures range.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Andrew Hanson, a 35-year-old lawyer based in Virginia. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Growing up without a lot in the Chicago area, I tried to do all the right things to set myself up, like taking honors classes and playing football.

I lost my way and started making bad decisions. At 17, I was kicked out of high school because I skipped class to work at my fast-food job and hang out with my friends.