The biggest misconception in student thinking is believing that the world is linear, predictable, and fair: that effort will always yield rewards, that hard work will be recognized, and that as long as the rules are followed, one can rise up; that the evaluation system is singular: grades, performance, positions, are a clean upward line.

But the real society never operates that way.

Reality is a multidimensional game: being 'needed' is always more important than being 'excellent'; ability is just a tool, and what you have in your hand: resources, information, position, relationships, scarcity, these are what determine whether you are qualified to stay at the table. Those without chips become increasingly vulnerable the more disciplined, responsible, and non-speculative they are.

Ironically:

Children from ordinary families are taught to follow the rules, endure, and delay gratification; while children from resource-rich families learn to understand the rules, use the rules, and even rewrite the rules.