Oh, dogging is the least of it. That one, we don't do because it "looks" any particular way to others, only because it's hard for her and she gets
exactly what she puts into things back as a return on her investment. All her cognitive advantages are to no avail there, and its a slow grind with no real short-cuts to be had.
(Rare thing, that, with PG-let.)
The Honor Society membership/elected offices, community boards that she serves on, volunteer work that she does, music, etc, though...
it's really
not that we "push" her to do those things-- or, for that matter, that we push her to do them at some level of participation with a glowing vita in mind, even. I might
explain why some things "count" and others won't... but... it's
always her decision what to do with herself.
I'm still trying to figure out how kids who look like rock stars on paper actually find a way to fit it all in legitimately. I've concluded that in many cases-- they can't possibly. Not without a Time-Turner or a TARDIS, anyway. The sheer number of hours required precludes either sleep OR school attendance. So I'm guessing that the reality is what I've observed to be true for the kids I've seen that have those "elite, leadership-ready" resumes...
Their parents sign them up for (or finagle placement into) all this stuff, and they show up for the parts that "count" (e.g. when the people in charge are noting who's participating) and then bail on the rest of the responsibility in order to make it to their second and third string bookings (which of course are booked for the same times, for efficiency's sake). You report that you participated, though, even when your attendance rate is more like 5-10%.
It's not
lying, exactly. And it is most certainly the only way to accumulate 300 hours of community service in a summer WHILE working full time as a lifeguard, while also being a paid camp counselor for some specialty camp for underprivileged children, while also participating in a mission to build a central American school in a remote village... WHILE completing your INTEL science entry. And taking a college class or two.
It's not actually a laughing matter, this. I
do know a few kids like this, and I'm-- truly-- not kidding. They run and run and run like hamsters on a wheel, and their parents are constantly prodding them to fit MORE-MORE-MORE in.
