While true that's not the story I was told as a student.

I don't think the commenter still believes that. But it's certainly reflects what I was told by schools growing up. Friends aren't important and work hard else your life will be menial labor until you die.

But kids don't necessarily know it isn't true, that's the point. The stakes are made out to be much higher than they are.

I'm not really one to bash my country, the US, but we have to pay for school here so you really only get about 1 -> 1.5 shots before your debt is too high to keep attending.

It depends on the school. Public schools are pretty cheap at the "worries about failing" level where you can start at an AA/AS school.

Most definitely. When I was doing computer science the threat of failing a class and costing myself money and sure that I was anxious pretty much the entire time I was in college. I had a lot of fun though