IMO it has to do with the people around said math course, professors, students , etc... Some environments make academic life great, some others make it "miserab

IMO it has to do with the people around said math course, professors, students , etc... Some environments make academic life great, some others make it "miserable" as the author describes. The advice I always give to young students (and a topic I'm writing about in an upcoming website that deals with abuse in academia) is find better people. There's (almost) always an alternative, find it and move to a better place; it's not always easy but it's easier than dealing with pricks for 2-4 years.