“Being perfect is boring, failing is fun.” I’ve been reflecting on that phrase my roommate shared with me a few nights ago. I had opened up quite a bit about my struggles with managing academic responsibilities with the expectations of my parents, in addition to whatever standards I have set for myself. Unfortunately, “perfection,” or something close to it, is the end goal I’ve been conditioned to pursue throughout my academic career. This has been farther compounded by the fact that I earned the title of the smart kid out of my four siblings (I even got the nickname “professor” for at least a year and a half). Pair this with constantly having others comment on the excellence of your family and siblings, and now I’m not just chasing after perfection for my own sake, but to uphold my family name.
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