I did hiring for years in my office. We only hire people with advanced degrees, usually from top 15 programs.

Yeah, many went to elite undergrad colleges, but a surprising number did not.

I will tell you to relax and hope that by typing it, I hear it -- my kid is not a great student in HS. He's probably going to be fine, but my worrying is making him nuts.

DS's second grade teachers were very worried about handwriting, spelling and math. Homework was a horrible struggle. Now in 7th grade, he has straight As and is shooting for all A pluses on report card.

It gets better.

OP here. Thanks for the positive responses. I'm not a helicopter parent or trying to push DS to be an academic superstar, nor do we put any pressure on a 7 year old. He does have ADHD which we are treating and possibly a LD. He struggles in reading but we are just now starting to see some progress. He gets all the support we could ask for from the school. I asked about high school because I wanted to hear some longer term success stories.

My husband's nephew was not a great student in elementary school and struggled with reading. I think he was tested for dyslexia and was found to have some attention issues. Starting in high school, his abilities in math/science started to really emerge and he now has a PhD in nuclear physics and teaches at Cal Tech. I think as a child gets older and can start to focus more in strength areas that really appeal to them, they can really blossom.

I was like this- I cared, but academically struggled - almost held back, but for social reasons- 1-4th grade. Something clicked (I think I started seeing how to compensate for a LD that wasn't diagnosed 'til my 30s) and I wound up super successful academically (Ivy college, grad, phd) so you never know.

My son didn't speak at all for several years. He was adopted and felt unwanted and tried to be quiet so we would forget he was there. He didn't talk so we'd not go "Wait, what's he doing here?" and then give him somewhere else. So yeah, to say he had struggles in elementary school would be a bit of an understatement. Did well enough in high school to go Ivy.

My daughter consistently got great grades but always comments about her behavior, focusing, talking too much. Always, talking too much and not listening. Did well enough in high school to go Ivy.

Anonymous wrote:What kind of struggles?

I think this makes a difference. I feel kind of sad for kids whose parents lament that they're not academically "motivated" when they're 6, 7, 8...On the other hand, if a kid is struggling b/c they have an undiagnosed LD, then it's probably not going to get much better for them until the LD is addressed.

No offense but you are worrying how a 7yr old will be in high school and hoping other people's situations might what? Settle you down a little bit? Your child is so young. Stop putting pressure on them and let them be a kid. They will find their way much easier and happier without a helicopter.

My honors-earning, AP-taking high schooler was easily the last to learn read in her class, struggled with math facts and HATED foreign language. She came into her own in junior high, found a love of history and classical languages.

My HS boyfriend had a very hard time in school as a kid--lots of attention problems, assumed to be dumb/trouble--but was extremely focused and successful in HS. Total overachiever, went to a great college and has had tremendous success as an adult.

Bless you, 18:13, for reminding those of us with younger kids who may have some struggles in the school setting that their fates are not set in stone and they have lots of time to grow/mature/blossom!

My DD28 blossomed academically around 6th grade and continued to do well throughout college. She had a very rocky start K through 3rd in terms of settling down and focusing.

What kind of struggles?

Did he/she have any struggles at all when younger or always do well. Wondering if there is any hope for my bright but struggling 2nd grader.