&gt;<i>I&#x27;m always split when reading stories like this.</i><p>I agree.  On one hand, as someone who deals with minor bouts of depression, I wouldn&#x27;t wish it on anyone.  It sucks.<p>On the other, I think part of the problem are these bizarre expectations to have everything &quot;figured out&quot; at such a young age.  The author writes about a series of what appear to be catastrophic, depression inducing academic and career oriented decisions, culminating in landing a dream job.  All by age 23 or so?<p>It&#x27;s all about academics, careers, potential employers, grades, GPA, admissions, money, prestige.  Need to find my place, need to find my place.  Then you find out it&#x27;s not as fulfilling as you&#x27;d imagined.  Perhaps it comes with the mentality of being an &quot;overachiever&quot;.  How about stopping to smell the flowers sometime, and realize you&#x27;re a kid with a lot of life left to live, full of all kinds of trials and tribulations?