I wasted a decade and a half as a promising scholar with top tier pedigree.

There is also plenty of other good pedigree info and taxing info to be found on the BCAD site.

Central pedigree might not allow you to reach your full potential.

And we can only assume that means Pit mix because landlords don't typically care if your dog is a mutt or pedigree lol. 

Having that degree was a competitive advantage in landing a job, but success always depended on personal performance rather than educational pedigree."

It is valuable to prove to another person your education pedigree...and is therefor only of utility when the person being presented the proof requires that education standard e.g. a Dr, Engineer, Lawyer...obviously there is more to it than that, but the premise stands.