I expect is not age, but experience that is significant. 6-7 years in the "real world" gave you the perspective to relate those classes to something meaningful

I expect is not age, but experience that is significant. 6-7 years in the "real world" gave you the perspective to relate those classes to something meaningful that you didn't have before. We leave our children in a weird bubble where they don't get to experience the world much beyond school during primary and secondary ages, and those who go on to university typically don't deviate from that bubble until graduation. Better life balance through youth, perhaps especially with more involvement in the workplace, seems like one potential solution.