Hardwork is necessary.

Life in general has refused to be an easy or simple game. No matter how you see life, nothing comes easy, even things that fund you by luck, you need to work hard and smart in order to keep it. At the end of the day you still need to work both hard and smart if you want life to go easy on you at some point. Reality may be difficult but it doesn't mean you should shy away into you unrealistic world. The world you created to hide, to feel sane, to feel normal and at ease. You need this world to keep you sane but you can skip on reality. Life's tough, life's crazy but at the end of the day you've got to find a way to survive. 
No matter you do to survive, make sure it is something you are proud of and you don't have to hide from people or have to look over your shoulder for the rest of your life . Life is hard already don't make it harder for yourself.

References (Example)

[1] <name>, '<title>' (online, <year>) <link>.
[2] BULB, 'Write to Earn. Read to Earn' (online, 2022) <https://www.bulbapp.io/>