Throughout high school, students are constantly conditioned to be the best they can be. We are told to aim for A’s in school, perform well in our sports and activities and balance jobs and a social life. While shooting for success can have its benefits, the line between our best and perfection is often blurred.
Whether for personal gain, parental pressure or a strong college resume, many students develop an overachieving mindset. Overachieving is a vicious cycle that causes students to set higher and higher goals for themselves, until their goals border on impossible. The relentless pursuit of perfection is exhausting and often leads to burnout. Although this mindset can push students to accomplish a lot, it is often harmful for high schoolers despite the successes that may result.
“Overachievers unfortunately put a lot of stress on themselves, which then makes them overwhelmed,” guidance counselor Andrew Franklin said. “When they’re overwhelmed, they can’t function properly because their thoughts are racing too much.”
Students fall into a cycle of constantly wanting more, whether for their own satisfaction or the approval of others. They feel like nothing is satisfactory, not even the best they can do. This makes overachievers constantly feel like they’re not good enough, which pushes them to strive for more. They base their self-worth on how much they can accomplish, which is emotionally harmful if they fail to reach their goals.
According to the Harvard Business Review, “Over time, a relentless drive to excel can create substantial imbalance in your life, cause you to neglect the needs of you or your loved ones, and lead to physical and mental health problems.”
Sophomore David Tejada, who is involved in advanced classes and activities ranging from mathletes to marching band, acknowledges the negative effects of having an overachieving mindset.
“Overworking, sleeping less, anxiety and stress are all prevalent,” Tejada said.
While it may seem counterintuitive, sometimes the best thing you can do is cut yourself some slack. Is a C on a test going to cause you to fail a class? Probably not. Is missing a practice going to make you lose a sports scholarship? No. Does giving up a club mean you are lazy? Absolutely not.
For students who are already involved in a lot of activities and work hard in school, the adults who support them need to make sure that they are not the ones putting excessive amounts of pressure on them. Most of the high schoolers who are overachievers are already self-motivated to do well; they don’t need outside pressure to continue putting forth their best effort.
High school should be a fun time in someone’s life not constricted by too many commitments. Kids have their whole lives ahead of them to balance responsibilities. While being involved is a good thing, maintaining a social life and mental health should be the priority. Focusing on achieving is good, but focusing on overachieving can be harmful.
Franklin advises simply saying no to some opportunities. Some things, he says, are just not worth putting on your plate. For students struggling with an overachieving mindset, Tejada also has some advice.
“While it’s important to have slightly difficult classes and try to challenge yourself, don’t overdo it,” Tejada said. “Don’t let grades or your achievements define who you are as a person.”
