I’m afraid to say it isn’t just Silicon Valley high schools that suffer from this. Here in Australia, particularly in grammar schools, the narrow definition of success, the associated stress to achieve that and the linear life direction championed (ie study hard to get into good college, then study hard to get a good job, then work hard and have good life) is prevalent.

The fallout is youth suicide rate is high and that you can spend so many years living someone else concept of life, without seeing the multitude of directions you can take that may end with a happier healthier person and contributing citizen.