Blogger Party

When did overachieving become bad?

Someone called me an overachiever yesterday. They said it in a negative tone, as thought it was a bad thing. Can someone please tell me when overachieving became bad?

My parents taught me that I could do and become anything I wanted to be, I just had to put my mind to it. They encouraged me, through their words and actions, that to strive to do your best was the way to finding success in today’s world.

In school, it was the over achievers that got all the recognition. They won the awards for best this and best that. They were the star football players and cheerleading captains. They were in the student government and starred in the school plays. They were the straight A students and members of the honor society. They were the ones that I was taught to look up to and admire. An example of perfection that was important for us all to strive to become.

Now I have not been living under a rock. I know that the world has been changing. I read the paper, yes the printed version! I also begin my day online by reviewing the news sites to check for updates. But I still must have missed it. Maybe I was sick or on vacation when overachieving became bad. I must have missed the 11pm news that covered the story.

I enjoy a challenge. I like to conquer a task and sit back and admire my accomplishment. I believe that these triumphs in our youth help us to develop into successful well adjusted adults. If more people were overachievers maybe we could better tackle and conquer the world’s problems, such as world hunger or AIDS.

Well overachieving may be bad, but I don’t care. I believe that calling one an overachiever is a compliment and I will consider myself lucky if I continue to receive that label. Knowing that through my actions I might be able to influence the next generation of overachievers to do and become anything that they desire.