I was in the Navy, taking on some fairly dangerous tasks. I saw it as a way to get away from home, get an education and job skills, and be a real man. (I blame testosterone poisoning. I had delayed onset of puberty, powered by injections of T, and this was within a couple of years of the last shot.). I didn't know my true nature at the time, but I think part of the motivation was to prove that I was a manly man, not the sissy boy punching bag from school.
I had tried college, but I managed to sabotage myself to the point I ran out of money before I got the degree. I understand now that the self-sabotage and self-doubt had origins deep within my internal conflict over gender. The military service did actually help, as I got some self-confidence from it and found I had the inner strength to plow through any obstacles I threw up against myself.
Of course, that also meant that I could do a really good job of repressing obstacles like my true nature, which was not a great idea in the long run.