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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have an overachiever in one specific domain (athletics). It is because he loves it, plain and simple. I don't think it had much to do with us. We told our kids early on that we had no interest in pushing them to play, so if they wanted to excel, it was on them. One of our kids stayed with rec level, but the overachiever just continually pushed and still pushes himself. He practices by himself for hours. I honestly think practicing calms his mind. He gets into some sort of zen zone.

I have literally never felt zen or calm about athletics in my life and do my daily exercise out of obligation only but I see it with him. I am a little jealous to be honest, would make my daily slog more enjoyable.[/quote]

Ha! I have also frequently thought about how very fit id be if I loved any exercise as much as DD loves running or DS loves soccer. Both those kids (my older two) are highly motivated to succeed academically as well, and I agree it’s primarily a genetic trait, though a similar peer group plays a role. In my older DS’s case, he was very focused on getting into a top academic school that had a great soccer program. He has never shown much interest in any of the subjects he’s studied—rigorous classes and good grades are a means to an end. [/quote]

PP here. I would look amazing if I loved athletics the way DS does! I do it daily but there are about a million things I would rather be doing. Sigh.

My DS never cared about school and had mediocre grades until he realized a good GPA and rigorous classes would help him get on the D1 team he wants to join, now he has excellent grades. But it is all just so he can play his sport and hopefully become professional. He does well in school only for athletics.

It's interesting to me because I have never been that single-minded in my life. I meandered a lot more. Don't know where it came from, goodness knows I am hardly an athletic role model. [/quote]

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