The+Overachievers+Precis

The Overachievers Precis
 * Citation: ** Robbins, Alexandra. The Overachievers: The Secret Lives of Driven Kids. Book. 2005.


 * Category **: Education


 * Precis: **Alexandra Robbins, the voice of high school students and young adults, in her non-fiction book “The Overachievers” claims that high school students struggle with obtaining a purposeful and emotionally and physically healthy learning experience especially with severe competition and high expectations, all in all for the acceptance of the most prestige colleges, the Ivy League. This argument is supported with various sources such as scientifically proven research concerning many medical problems from high school students and one-on-one information from actual high school individuals, which tremendously provides raw facts about the complete story of modern or the “now” high school and backed up with foundational ideas about education in the U.S. over the past years. The purpose of this book is to bring awareness of the fierce competition for today’s society’s definition of success rather than personal success for students themselves in order to possibly decrease the overachieving educational system and redefine the true meaning of success and self-worth. This mainly done to address to parents, admissions officers and teachers and let them see and visualize the effects of constant pressure over a student’s educational life and at times their life as a whole.

**Personal Commentary**: At first reading this book, I was even more pressured by comparing myself and other students in other states and so questioned with complete hatred the author in my head “Why did she make this book?”, because either way reading this before, during, or after high school is not the best read, but as I continued my read towards the end and did some additional research of the author, I was able to see why she made this book. I found that the author was an overachiever herself and the only way to undo the mistakes she made was to inform other students with the same experience. So, now as I reread few parts of the book I gladly enjoy it.