Let's look at little Jimmy.
He's a sophomore in high school. He gets good grades, plays basket ball, has lots of friends, and listens to his parents. He's a guidance counselor's wet dream. On track for honor roll graduation and a four-year college. Another example of the American dream.
Like any teenage boy, he gets in some trouble. Maybe he drinks a little, gets some speeding tickets. A fight or two, maybe even gets busted tagging all over lockers in the school. This could ruffle a few feathers, and lead to some 'get your act together, young man' speeches; but it really is all just boys will be boys. Hormones and new found aggression, no big deal. Jimmy realizes that yeah, maybe he should calm down and get back on track. A good GPA means a good college means a good job means a good life. Jimmy buckles down, nose to the grindstone.

But come senior year, his eyes have been opened a tad more. He's seen some friends get into some crazy stuff with drugs, and had some puppy love end badly. His friends who graduated the past couple years aren't doing to well- dropping out of college or working jobs they hate. He can't stand listening to his parents talk about college, because he hasn't ever had the chance to figure out what he really wants to do- he's just had every teacher or counselor or adult in his life tell him what THEY thought he should do. So combine all this juvenile cynicism with the need of every teen to stand on their own two feet, to feel independent, you may have a problem.
From day one, Jimmy's been taught that getting a good job and making money is the way to happiness. They teach art and music in school, but there's little chance to branch out from the conveyor belt of high school to college to job market. So what's Jimmy going to do? He feels money will give him the independence he desires, give him the power to carve his own little niche in this big bad world. But will he get a job? Hell no! Why let someone else dictate who much he's worth?
So maybe he talks to his friends older brother who's into this and that, and the next thing you know, all that youthful verve and intellect takes on a far more ruthless and negative aspect. Very unhealthy for all involved, to say the least.

And all because our culture values the dollar over the smile.

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