Other people, including me, have written books with main characters who were old and rich. Or old and brilliant. Old sages, old wizards, old rich people.
Having to struggle gave me the chance to demonstrate strength of character.
I love biomedical science, I love astronomy, and you can't really do much with those in a fantasy setting.
One thing nobody can do better than you is be you.
Hard to be a physics major at Rice University if you have flunked calculus.
I've taught Sunday school, I've sung in the choir, I directed a choir.