My own path through related stuff is unusual, so nothing like the authors. I do however have experience working with and teaching people who were on very simil

My own path through related stuff is unusual, so nothing like the authors. I do however have experience working with and teaching people who were on very similar paths to theirs. There are a huge number of kids in this authors shoes, ones who are on a treadmill and not entirely sure why. There are also lots of kids who were always the best at something (in this case math) that any of their teachers etc. had ever seen ... until they move across the country and find themselves in a classroom where they are middling at best. And sure, there are rare kids who are so good it catches you off guard. FWIW I suspect there are more kids made miserable than those who thrive, but I think it's largely unavoidable in a tournament system like "elite" college apps. There are also plenty of kids who had some fun and made some friends along the way without taking it too seriously. I suspect in this case it's often a good outlook in high school, especially for kids who don't really fit in anywhere else.