Editorial: Why Am I An Overachiever?

Do you ever feel that you’re not doing enough? Let me tell you, I feel that all the time. Even though I am involved with numerous activities on campus, I’m taking six classes this semester, I have a part-time job, and I am an editor of this publication, it still feels like I do nothing. I keep wondering why I feel this way. I guess it’s because I see what other people are able to accomplish and I want to be on that level. But, why does that mean that I feel everything I do is insignificant?

Every assignment I do is done way before the due date, I make sure to be at my job on time, I’m always at least 30 minutes early to each of my classes. Basically in simpler terms, I like to overachieve. It’s a huge reason I put pressure on myself, I just want to be accomplished at what I do. I feel that in this society, if you’re not excelling in academics, then you’re not going to go anywhere in life. I guess I just want to belong. But, what I really want is to give myself grace and to be accomplished without feeling the constant weight of pressure on my shoulders. 

So, how do I do that? I guess the point I’m trying to get at is no matter how much I tell myself that I shouldn’t apply so much pressure to everything that I do, it doesn’t happen overnight. As I am approaching my senior year, instead of looking outward and comparing with what surrounds me, I need to be looking within myself and be proud that I work hard and it has paid off in numerous ways. Comparison feels like a disease that wears you down no matter how much you try to fight it. Luckily for me, I have a great support system around me that always cheers me on as I accomplish something new. Will I ever stop comparing myself to others? The answer is probably no. But, will I work on not being so hard on myself? Absolutely, and that is something I can say I’m sure about.