NeverarGreat said:

Probably flying blind. People just assume that everything will work out if they work hard and follow their passions, but we all know that this is BS.

I think it's part of this whole "we aren't a vocational school" attitude that high school faculty/staff have nowadays. It's almost as if they're afraid to discuss careers outside of academia with students.

I went to an average public high school in New Jersey and post-HS plans were only discussed once or twice in prearranged meetings with "guidance" counselors.

I think they just assumed that everyone would go to some kind of college and figure out their future plans there. Unfortunately, many (most?) of those college-bound students fly blind during those four years and wind up in a situation like your friend.