Overachievers: Born or Made?

Last week I talked about overachievers in general. The people who do everything. The people who can’t say “no.” The people who don’t like to fail. But how did we become like this? Are we born or made?

By the time we get to collect, we are  all but technologically programmed and wired to strive for success. We got our scholarships, we take honors classes, we joined multiple organizations, got involved in things that would look great on our resumes, and we get our internships. The list goes on. We do what we are supposed to do, what is right and expected. We are programmed. When did we become these robot-like people who follow check lists?

For me personally, I can’t think of a time when my life was not like this, not laid out in a certain path that I was going to follow. Turning in my work on time and getting good grades was a no-brainer. The thought of getting a bad grade on anything was enough to drive me into a cold sweat. I remember one time back when I was in high school, my junior year I think it was, I was starting to get college letters in the mail. They were just the general letters that you start to get after you take the SAT and ACT, telling you about all the things that a school has to offer. My mom looked at me one day and asked me if I even wanted to go to college. She realized that she had never even thought to ask. Going to college had always been the plan. I had never even considered doing anything else other than going to college, and finishing my education.

I would get the grades.
I would be really involved.
I would get scholarships.
I would go to college, graduate with honors, and get a good job.

There was never any doubt in my mind. I now realize that this thinking does not make me some robot-like person intent on completing some mission. This must means that I am incredibly lucky to be able to be so cure about my future. I had two amazing parents to look up to throughout my entire childhood. They both went to college and have done amazing things with their lives. They are still together and love each other. They set the standard that I strive to meet in my own life. Without them encouraging me to always do my best, I might have turned out an incredibly different person.

While I sometimes worry about disappointing them, and not living up to their standards, I know that I have been so fortunate to have them in my life, and create so many opportunities for me.

So… Are we born or made? I think it might be a combination of both.