I can almost guarantee that a great deal of my own ability now, has benefited from having to work harder than others
I donno, stuff like this can be hard to attribute. While the harder life would definitely have helped to build that attitude, a lot of it is intrinsic, because you turned out this way instead of one of those victim mentalities you dislike, and that would have been a lot easier.
I can't attribute it all, but I have a wide enough experience across a range of areas that I am able to see how it has helped me shape who I am today. I have always been observational and pretty reflective - even as a kid.