Have mercy for the over-achiever
Natalie Schutz
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Opinions
Dear faculty/staff,
I am an overachiever.
By reading my byline, you probably quickly know if you've had me in class or in an extracurricular. I constantly had my hand in the air. I always got my work in on time. I e-mailed you constantly before the final project was due. You rarely had complaints about my work and I worked hard to get an A in your class.
Aren't I the kind of student that you always hope for?
Then why, dear faculty/staff member, does it feel that I suffer for being an overachiever in your class or extracurricular? Why am I expected to pick up the slack of others?
Instead of understanding my condition, it seems you add to it. You recommend me for time-consuming committees, honor societies, workshops, classes, etc. You tell me I do such good work and yet you tell me to do more, more, more.
Yet, realize I do not have time. Overachievers are overwhelmed, even though we'd never admit to it.
Yes, I am an overachiever, but do you realize how much extra time and effort it takes to be one?
Do you think I want to be one? No, I really don't. Rather, for some probably psychological reason I strive to please people, so when you give me all those special projects, things to look into, and supposed "resume builders" (my resume is already three pages, I don't need it), I really only want a "good job" and a good grade instead.
Give it instead to the student that really needs something on their resume and will take great pride in that committee invitation; the student that will call their parents will in excitement when you recommend them for something.
But please not me, Ms. Overachiever. Those banquets always serve the same food and get in the way of little social time I have left.
I mean sure, I like recognition as much as the next person. Yet, I don't consider recognition to be boring ceremonies, societies that cost money with few benefits, or special projects that just eat up more of my precious time.
I realize what you're trying to do is full of good, but frankly I need to learn to say no or I never will.
I know you say that I need the experience. You say that in this economy that I need all the help I can get. Yet, I'm not worried.
Maybe I'll use that unemployment time to be an underachiever. I'll have a less stressful job that fully doesn't utilize my skills; One where I don't have to think too hard or dress up too much. Maybe I'll be able to think about myself for once during that time and what I actually want to do and what makes me happy instead of trying to help out everyone around me.
No, I'm not worried. I think the world will always have a place for little ol' overachievers like me. Hopefully it's just a place I enjoy and not one someone tells me I should enjoy or one that is the most beneficial to enjoy.
Thanks for your time (I wish I had more),
Natalie Schutz
I am an overachiever.
By reading my byline, you probably quickly know if you've had me in class or in an extracurricular. I constantly had my hand in the air. I always got my work in on time. I e-mailed you constantly before the final project was due. You rarely had complaints about my work and I worked hard to get an A in your class.
Aren't I the kind of student that you always hope for?
Then why, dear faculty/staff member, does it feel that I suffer for being an overachiever in your class or extracurricular? Why am I expected to pick up the slack of others?
Instead of understanding my condition, it seems you add to it. You recommend me for time-consuming committees, honor societies, workshops, classes, etc. You tell me I do such good work and yet you tell me to do more, more, more.
Yet, realize I do not have time. Overachievers are overwhelmed, even though we'd never admit to it.
Yes, I am an overachiever, but do you realize how much extra time and effort it takes to be one?
Do you think I want to be one? No, I really don't. Rather, for some probably psychological reason I strive to please people, so when you give me all those special projects, things to look into, and supposed "resume builders" (my resume is already three pages, I don't need it), I really only want a "good job" and a good grade instead.
Give it instead to the student that really needs something on their resume and will take great pride in that committee invitation; the student that will call their parents will in excitement when you recommend them for something.
But please not me, Ms. Overachiever. Those banquets always serve the same food and get in the way of little social time I have left.
I mean sure, I like recognition as much as the next person. Yet, I don't consider recognition to be boring ceremonies, societies that cost money with few benefits, or special projects that just eat up more of my precious time.
I realize what you're trying to do is full of good, but frankly I need to learn to say no or I never will.
I know you say that I need the experience. You say that in this economy that I need all the help I can get. Yet, I'm not worried.
Maybe I'll use that unemployment time to be an underachiever. I'll have a less stressful job that fully doesn't utilize my skills; One where I don't have to think too hard or dress up too much. Maybe I'll be able to think about myself for once during that time and what I actually want to do and what makes me happy instead of trying to help out everyone around me.
No, I'm not worried. I think the world will always have a place for little ol' overachievers like me. Hopefully it's just a place I enjoy and not one someone tells me I should enjoy or one that is the most beneficial to enjoy.
Thanks for your time (I wish I had more),
Natalie Schutz
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