I take it as -- using the word "fail" to mean you don't finish your Ph.D. is the word a survivor (say, professor) would use. Even though grandparent didn't sur

I take it as -- using the word "fail" to mean you don't finish your Ph.D. is the word a survivor (say, professor) would use. Even though grandparent didn't survive in academia, they're still using the terminology associated with that. Namely, that not becoming a professor is somehow failing.