How being a “gifted” child ruined my adult life

Am I a jack of all trades or do I have a life without purpose?

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As a child growing up in Illinois, I was always one step ahead of everyone else. But only mentally, because I have short legs.

I hit milestones earlier than most kids. I was in multiple before and after-school clubs… and weekend activities.

I finished my classwork long before everyone else and voluntarily came up with my own extra credit work. My parents gave me math problems to work on at restaurants to entertain myself.

I won academic and artistic contests. I was a permanent staple of the honor roll list. I traveled for performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and coveted trips to hit the stage at Disney World.

I played multiple instruments, went to a performing arts academy, excelled in every subject at school, and finished a slew of college-level courses before I hit my senior year of high school when I graduated with honors.

I was “gifted”.

Being gifted turned into unwieldy perfectionism

When you’re doing that many things that well and people notice, there’s pressure to continue to do them all well — and then some.