I believe that it's hard work and who you know mostly. Success in life isn't what you achieved on paper, such as school or University results, but it's what you've accomplished and who you've worked with, or on... If you want to succeed, I'd say do things that'll get you noticed more than will be good on paper. Of course, you'll need said paper to get into some situations, but what you do certain situations will help you the most.
"It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine" - A. A. Milne