Life is filled with scams and scammers. I'm trying to come up with the earliest ...

Most of my childhood public education was a scam. When I started high school I tested into the advanced geometry class but was getting mediocre grades in algebra (I never really did homework and held a really low gpa in middle school) so they revoked my placement. Instead I got placed in the normal geometry class with a brand new teacher that didn't want to be a teacher, and with all the kids that didn't care. I pretty much gave up on school at that point.

I'd test into advanced classes but I'd be stuck retaking the classes I had failed. Occasionally some teachers would be good at their job and intervene. I did eventually end up with a really good math teacher in high school that was super unorthodox and technology forward which is probably what eventually led me to programming. RIP Mr. Gharst.

I ended up not graduating from high school.