Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion unlearning learnt underachievement in GT adults

I can give you my story a little bit. I would breeze through school but had to maintain a tough girl persona. I went to a Gifted and Honors High School which really saved me, but still I did what I had to do to get an A and nothing more. I procrastinated to make school more interesting by making beating the clock a game. I went to a top 5 school and I think everyone there had a learned behavior to complain about the work and look like you werent working that hard. When I started with internships and my first year of work, it was so detrimental to have that attitude. What boss wants a worker who looks like they are doing nothing and waiting until the last minute to try to beat the clock? It affected my performance because I was around other smart high achieving people. I thrive off of competition and games. So instead of the game being beating the given clock, I learned to set my own goals and deadlines ahead of what I was given and I still make a game out of everything but I am only competing against myself on my own given timeline. Then, I have to beat myself. I have also made my goal perfection. One, of course, I will have a challenge to meet with each assignment.