When Being the Best is Too Much

[Lindsey Dzierozynski]

“You can’t just be the smartest.  You have to be the most athletic, you have to be able to have the most fun, you have to be the prettiest, the best-dress, the nicest, the most wanted.  You have to constantly be out on the twon partying, and then you have to get straight A’s.  And most of all, you have to appear to be happy.” –CJ (The Overachievers: The Secret Life of Driven Kids.)

 

Who here considers themselves an overachiever?  How many people here can say that they overload themselves with work, school activities, and more?  In The Overachievers: The Secret Life of Driven Kids, by Alexandra Robbins, a lot of the students from Whitman High School can. In this stunning novel, Robbins focuses on stress, helicopter parents, the push to be the best of the best, and the overall effects it has on students.  The story shifts from character to character, giving us a glimpse of these overachievers’ lives.  From Julie the Superstar, to Audrey the Perfectionist, and AP Frank the Workhorse, we get a piece of their life stories and how the drive to be the best is slowly destroying them.  Not only does Robbins give us the chance to see what it is like for the overachieving, but also the kids who aren’t perfect like the overachievers, the ones who are considered “second-tier.”  People like Sam, CJ, and Ryland are afraid they won’t make it into a good college, or are jealous because they can’t seem to reach the level of “perfect.”  Continuing through the novel, Robbins fills us in with surprising facts, knowledge, and stories about the craze to be the best.  The information about colleges, high schools, parents, students, and even preschools is horrifying.  Overall, the story ends with an excellent message about how society’s over-competitive views need to change.

                I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone.  Even if you aren’t a big fan of non-fiction books, you’ll love it from the very beginning all the way to the end.  I for one absolutely adored The Overachievers: The Secret Life of Driven Kid.  Being an overachiever myself, this book spoke to me.  This book made me think about not only what society needs to do about the overachieving problems, but what I can do for myself to reduce all the stress and its negative effects.  Seeing how much it killed the students having to deal with the problems of overachieving made me think a lot about the idea of being "better than everyone."  One student in this novel even reveals that his mother broke his finger because he wasn’t sitting at his desk studying. Alexandra Robbins does a wonderful job driving her point about the problems of being the “crème de la crème,” the best of the best.

Please consider reading this book, as it is absolutely spectacular and brings you into a whole new perspective of achieving.  So what do you think about overachieving, do you think it’s a problem?  Is it hurting everyone?  If you’ve read this book, what did you think of it?  Are there any other things you have to add about this book or overachieving?  Let me know in the comments below!

 

Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog!  I really appreciate it!   

[Sai Musunuru]

     Hey Lindsey this is a really good blog post and everything seems so realistic and so similar to the real world and our everyday lives. I really want to read this book because I really like books that I am able to relate to myself. The book  Overachievers  is definitely going on my 'list of books to read'. I haven't read any books by Alexandra Robbins but I will have to read this book and find out about her as a writer. Your blog post was really good and convinced me to read the book. NICE JOB!!!

[Katherine Benson]

Aloha Lindsey! Since the beginning of this year I've been hearing more and more about this book and I'm really tempted to read it. I think everyone, even the people who aren't in a bunch of honors classes are feeling the heat more and more to be an academically advanced and well-rounded student. I find myself more and more frustrated by the campaigning and "necessity" for after school activities by some staff at school after there was just a lecture on honors classes and pushing above and beyond in academic achievement. No one can do it all and I think our society is losing it's grasp on that reality. Even more puzzling is not all well educated, first-world countries have this issue with what I see as a kind of double standard. In most European countries extracurricular activities are available, but there isn't such a push for students to be involved. Academics have a definite priority, where extracurriculars are just if you have spare time and you feel like joining. Extracurriculars aren't really valued by colleges either, unless they entail scholarship. It's less about the well-rounded student and more about the academically achieving student. If you ask me, U.S. schools need to follow suit and pick one as the focus. This by no means would fix the issue in society, but it would be a step in the right direction. Your blog was fantastic, it really made me think! :)

[Lindsey Dzierozynski]

Thanks Sai.  I have to say I definitely suggest this book.  It really makes you rethink what the meaning of "honors" or "being smart" actually is.  I believe so many people now a days can relate to this and I agree it does sound EXACTLY like the real world and our everyday lives.  I'm glad you're considering reading it!  I know you'll enjoy it.

[Lindsey Dzierozynski]

Thanks Katherine, and I completely agree!  It has gone beyond reality.  The book even made a point just like you were saying that even the extra curricular activities and sports are all competition and pressure now.  It's sad to say that we're continuing down such an unfortunate direction and yes something really needs to be done and changed.  Oh and please do read it!  If you think you're thinking a lot about it wait until you read the book.  It will REALLY REALLY make you think!