Serious Is the nature of Society a hoax?

It's true that a lot of us were brought up to be successful, and obviously this is only true for people living in 1st world countries where education is prevalent. What would you call 'to truly be alive'? Can it be said that some people enjoy to sell, or write, or draw and that by going through school they don't retire in a falsehood but retire having lived out their dreams? If you live your life how you want, even by living up to societies standards set upon us, why can't we end our lives happy? If you die from old age or due to cancer, can't you at least say you lived your life how you wanted to? Maybe some see that as a false life, a fake life. But who are others to see how you live your life? Who says you can't die happy?