Perhaps these states of minds are simply just based on what our parents have continually pushed us to do. For some of us, our parents are constantly telling us to get good grades and whatnot so success can be easily achieved. We subscribe to these thoughts as our parents become our biggest role models in our lives. Our parents constantly remind us of how hard they tried to reach where they are; they even seem happy in their current places and positions. Occasionally, seeing their happiness makes us quite literally want to be like them, to try as hard as they did, to succeed to get into a place like theirs. In regards to "happiness is acceptance", I believe that that kind of happiness is simply fake. We have the potential to become truly successful in life and if we somehow fail to become "truly successful", that is our fault and we would have to live with the guilt and acceptance of our failure. We all have dreams. Although quite cynical, I believe that "happiness is acceptance" can never be, and true happiness can only be achieved once our true goals and dreams have been achieved.