I like to share a personal experience.

When I first started working (as a fresh grad without an official degree yet), just like everyone else, begun from the bottom of the lot. I did work my way up, producing outstanding results and productivity (despite not having to OT too much).

Within a short period of 4 months, I was given the responsibility as team leader in a project, supervising a team of 8 members. Statistically, I was the youngest in the team (at 22 years old) and also the most junior of all (having joined the company for merely 4 months).

I faced a lot of personal battles in within, fearing that jealousy or back-bitting would arise (which I later learnt that it would happen anyway, under any circumstances). I wanted to decline this role and told my division head that someone with a higher seniority should be assigned this responsibility.

A short lecture was given to me, and with some words of comfort and encouragement, I took on the challenge.

It turned out that my team members were highly supportive and understanding towards me. They hardly brought up the issue about age or seniority, and we worked cohessively as a family.

I guess at the end of the day, it's neither age/rank/seniority/strings that matters. It's what you have to offer, be it in terms of skills/knowledge/talents that dictates your position in an organisation.