5) I'm a profoundly gifted kid who grew up poor in Appalachia, whose parents had not graduated from college when I left (my mom graduated at the age of 53), and went to graduate school for six years before becoming a teacher in a Title I public middle-school. Your mileage may vary.
I'm talking about downward mobility (worse off than parents).
Transitioning from poor to a teacher is upward mobility.
I think you're missing her point.
1) Her PG status resulted in a top education, which typically opens up tons of opportunities, and resulted in a career that pays, for that level of educational attainment, relatively badly.
Which brings up another point that has yet to be addressed... the pursuit of wealth is widely regarded as pointless among the highly gifted.
2) Giftedness is related to genetics, so her parents were likely gifted despite being uneducated and poor.
