Every single university student I know is depressed, anxious, thinks the world is fucked etc. A lot of them come from broken homes, are paying their way through college, sharing a one bedroom with three other people, all while they see their chances of a good life vanish, and desperately searching for internships or co-ops or whatever they can grasp that can give them a lifeline.

In the thread there were some other explanations than "American optimism". Like trying to write what they think the prof wants, carrying over their high school's way of analyzing etc.

I can't comment on the toddler analogy, but given your username, I'm guessing you're the cop they mistake for being good.