My parents did not go to university. My mother left school before completing Form 7 (academics simply weren't her strong suit) while my father's family couldn't afford to send him to university.
I can write about this now with a touch of pride and a greater appreciation of my parents' incredible achievements and sacrifices, but this wasn't always the case.
In fact, there was a time in secondary school when I was almost ashamed to talk about my family background. A nagging thought at the back of my head told me that I was somehow inferior to my peers - the sons and daughters of doctors, professors, engineers, lawyers and businessmen educated at the likes of Harvard University or the University of Hong Kong.
Occasionally, I would find it difficult to say that one of my uncles drove buses for a living and that an aunt was employed as a cleaning lady.
I'm glad to report that I've grown beyond that - though, even now, there can still be an awkward moment of silence from time to time, especially after a classmate has just told me that his/her relative is on the board of directors of insert-name-of-famous-company-here. You get the point.
Still, getting past this social insecurity is a part of the maturation process and I've come to understand that it doesn't really matter what you do - as long as you do it well and with sincerity. People recognise you for your character and not just the fancy title you have on your resume.