Part of me wonders if part of this isn't in inflated (and unrealistic) expectations. Society (American society, at least) drills it into your head... You want

Part of me wonders if part of this isn't in inflated (and unrealistic) expectations. Society (American society, at least) drills it into your head... You want to buy a house. You must go to college. These are societal metrics for success... and yet both often prove disappointing. You realize home ownership is way more expensive than you'd expected. You realize that fresh diploma does not mean a high-paid job. Welcome to adulthood, the great re-aligning of expectations? :)