Confessions of an Overachiever

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Abstract

at describes it nicely. Itqan — used to indicate the highest level of quality work and the correct and complete performance of duties. I like to take pride in my work. But here’s the catch, the drive to achieve must be tempered by one simple fact: perfection does not exist. You don’t beat yourself up when it doesn’t happen. Don’t fall into extremes of thinking — I’m either all good or I’m all bad. No one can be perfect all the time.We’re talking about overachieving here. So allow me to feel genuinely upset over getting a B that broke my A streak. I dwelled for so long on the fact that I’ll never know what it feels to have a perfect GPA or being a valedictorian (a dream of my mother’s). It took a lot of reflecting. Was I complacent with my revisions? (Yes). Did I succumb to procrastinating my assignments? (Many). Did I do any last-minute revision for exams? (Affirmative). I concluded that I pretty much deserved it.<h2 id="0c72">Confession #2 Know Your Worth</h2>There’s so much more to what goes on beneath a grade. An A, B, C, D or E does not define your worth as a person. Whether it is due to a shortcoming on your end or the product of the circumstances you were in. Like going through a tough period — a family falling ill, a breakup or an anxiety attack. Perhaps, if you are a believer, you were distant in your relationship and reliance on God.Learning to grow from those experiences turned out to benefit me more than a transcript that shows a perfect score. Long-term happiness means understanding that your worth as a human does not hinge on your GPA. Nor does it mean getting into a top sch

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ool or winning competitions. Not having those for yourself does not equate to you being a failure. I’m not here to downplay other people’s success. I’m saying stop comparing yourself to others and realise that you are on different journeys.<h2 id="7975">Confession #3 Pick Your Battles</h2>A fond memory I hold is participating in a medical olympiad organized by my school. The foreign student in me narrowed down the branches I could participate into 2 options — Neurology or Tropical Medicine. (Because they were the only ones in English) and I am bad in Bahasa Indonesia. I chose Neurology because it was the only branch that I had prior knowledge in.Maybe it was beginner’s luck. But I ended up winning Gold and continue to participate in that branch the subsequent year. I learnt that I have a passion for Neurology. Something I’d never discover had I not learn to pick my battle. The point I’m trying to make is — find your strength and commit to building on it. Learn to say no when an opportunity does not go in line with your goals. You don’t have to jump into every opportunity that comes your way.There are days when I wonder if overachieving is more harm than good. To define it, overachieving to me means striving to reach my maximum potential. You attempt that, in things that would bring quality to your life instead of trying to do anything and everything for the sake of it. Your successes mean nothing to others if it means nothing to you. It does not mean simply completing something on time or ticking tasks off a list.It’s about the journey itself.</article></body>

Confessions of an Overachiever

Anything worth achieving is worth overachieving

Ask youths today and I’m sure many would agree that there is a lot of pressure on us these days. Pressure from parents, society and peers. Everyone tells you to work hard, get ahead, and more and more, do something amazing for yourself. For me, it had always been to do well enough to get into medical school. After landing myself into one, the pressure didn’t cease. Now, thyself is pressured to build a good portfolio, to do well enough to get opportunities to specialize or to be what truly matters — a good doctor.

We talk all the time (with amazement) about who has a 4.0 GPA. Who gets an A for the latest exams, who are going for medical olympiads or participating in research. Not forgetting the all-rounders, actively participating in multiple CCAs and holding leadership positions. I’m sure many would agree — there’s nothing wrong with being an overachiever. Society and school celebrate success. They have scholarships and bursaries as incentives to encourage excellence.

Confession #1 Do everything with Itqan

When asked how I stay motivated, I’d say I’m fueled by the desire to do things perfectly. There’s an Arabic word that describes it nicely. Itqan — used to indicate the highest level of quality work and the correct and complete performance of duties. I like to take pride in my work. But here’s the catch, the drive to achieve must be tempered by one simple fact: perfection does not exist. You don’t beat yourself up when it doesn’t happen. Don’t fall into extremes of thinking — I’m either all good or I’m all bad. No one can be perfect all the time.

We’re talking about overachieving here. So allow me to feel genuinely upset over getting a B that broke my A streak. I dwelled for so long on the fact that I’ll never know what it feels to have a perfect GPA or being a valedictorian (a dream of my mother’s). It took a lot of reflecting. Was I complacent with my revisions? (Yes). Did I succumb to procrastinating my assignments? (Many). Did I do any last-minute revision for exams? (Affirmative). I concluded that I pretty much deserved it.

Confession #2 Know Your Worth

There’s so much more to what goes on beneath a grade. An A, B, C, D or E does not define your worth as a person. Whether it is due to a shortcoming on your end or the product of the circumstances you were in. Like going through a tough period — a family falling ill, a breakup or an anxiety attack. Perhaps, if you are a believer, you were distant in your relationship and reliance on God.

Learning to grow from those experiences turned out to benefit me more than a transcript that shows a perfect score. Long-term happiness means understanding that your worth as a human does not hinge on your GPA. Nor does it mean getting into a top school or winning competitions. Not having those for yourself does not equate to you being a failure. I’m not here to downplay other people’s success. I’m saying stop comparing yourself to others and realise that you are on different journeys.

Confession #3 Pick Your Battles

A fond memory I hold is participating in a medical olympiad organized by my school. The foreign student in me narrowed down the branches I could participate into 2 options — Neurology or Tropical Medicine. (Because they were the only ones in English) and I am bad in Bahasa Indonesia. I chose Neurology because it was the only branch that I had prior knowledge in.

Maybe it was beginner’s luck. But I ended up winning Gold and continue to participate in that branch the subsequent year. I learnt that I have a passion for Neurology. Something I’d never discover had I not learn to pick my battle. The point I’m trying to make is — find your strength and commit to building on it. Learn to say no when an opportunity does not go in line with your goals. You don’t have to jump into every opportunity that comes your way.

There are days when I wonder if overachieving is more harm than good. To define it, overachieving to me means striving to reach my maximum potential. You attempt that, in things that would bring quality to your life instead of trying to do anything and everything for the sake of it. Your successes mean nothing to others if it means nothing to you. It does not mean simply completing something on time or ticking tasks off a list.

It’s about the journey itself.