@lucille There is just too much information missing in your story. Where and who the boy was adopted after being dumped, how much talent the boy had, what opportunities the boy happened to come across… The boy could very much have ended up being in other professions, or even just led an ordinary life if it wasn’t for those factors I’m not saying there is something wrong with the boy though, he could lead an ordinary life and have awesome personality. Being a CEO isn’t necessary an indication that the boy made it while others didn’t.
When I was a child I used to be praised for my confidence and boldness. But things suddenly came to a decline when I entered high school. Someone told me to “believe in myself before others does”. I tried and it didn’t work and I beat myself up for that. Turned out the reason was that I was suffering from extreme bullying and had no one close to a friend to understand what I was going through. And the one who told me to believe in myself, she later turned out to be a manipulator who wanted me to be strong so that she could use me. When I got out of high school and finally got myself some real friends, I was back to my confident self.
I even know a jelly who went through the exact same thing. She was all happy and optimistic. Then she had to move in with her granddaughter to take care of her, and the kid’s negative personality drained her. Every time I met her she never had energy for a normal conversation and she sometimes complained, something she had never done much before. She decided to move out and she is now again the cheerful friend I know.
So yeah, everyone is not the same. I’m not trying to shoot you down, but even when someone “crumbles” by your definition, be kind to them. They may just haven’t found the true place where they can shine yet.