If you mean to go back to school, it was being generally unhappy with my current trajectory in life.

This.

I saw myself being largely irrelevant, with no happiness drawn from the experience.

I feel many are in the same boat, but they haven't got over the hurdle to actually do something about it. They just sit as victims of circumstance.

Meritocracy is the aim right?

I suppose. But the start line is so staggered, I am not sure if balance is possible. I also think that merit alone might not be the greatest indicator, as we aren't able to give value to all parts that are important to us, or the community. This is why in a business we value what we can see and count, and normally all the other stuff is discounted.