Is There Such a Thing As Overachieving? (kids, society, history)

[jazzcat22]

I just finished an article about Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC. It mentioned that he comes from a family of overachievers. Parents are a cardiologist and a professor of Russian history. One of his brothers teaches history at Harvard.

They are high achievers, to be sure. But---overachieving? Seems like the media comes up with stuff that doesn't really make sense and we all accept it without questioning.

Let's face it, America is a classist society with limited social mobility. Isn't it expected that parents who are high achievers have kids who are and so on down the line?

And the overachieving seems like a needless value judgment. So do we want people to achieve "just enough?" Should we discourage those who achieve a lot?

I don't get it.

[Hyperthetic]

Many overachievers disachieve via overachievement.

More than not, they are stuck in a contrived merit system.

Merit for merit's sake, may or may not be merit per se.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by jazzcat22

Is There Such a Thing As Overachieving?

When considered outside of the academic/professional perspective.

Parents are a cardiologist and a professor of Russian history.
One of his brothers teaches history at Harvard.

They are high achievers, to be sure. But---overachieving?

Again... it's about context.

eg: What about depth in the *other* aspects of their lives?
If they are otherwise well rounded and content then their academic/professional
achievement is, or should be considered, within normal parameters.

eg: Where they even brighter than implied and able to have done even more?
Then you might be able to criticize them as under achievers.