Over-achiever Overload!

I am the weird one in my family; I always get big projects done several weeks before they are done.  I was working on a project for my Criminal Law class at home, and my mom asked me when it was due (September 18th is the due date, in case you were wondering).  She gave me a weird look and then started laughing, shaking her head all the while.  This had occurred in late August.  Yes, I had actually started working on the project several weeks before it was due.  I had another project due September 17th, and I already have it done too.  Both projects have been sent in to be graded by my teachers, and I have a grade back for my Criminal Law project (the grade was a 100, again, in case you were wondering).  Everyone in my family knows that I am the opposite of a procrastinator.  I have always been this way, from elementary school until now.  It is this attitude that inspired me to tell you why I think being an over-achiever is actually a good thing.

1.  You will have more time.  This will benefit you in two ways.  The first is that by starting the project early, you will have more time to devote to it.  While you don’t have to finish it all at once, you will have time to complete a little bit at a time.  This will also give you more free time in the end.  Rather than using four plus hours the night before trying to get it done, you will have that time to do whatever you want to do.

2.  You will get a higher grade.  Okay, let me explain this.  Turning your work in early will not give you extra points (maybe sometimes if your teacher is nice) and you are not guaranteed an A just because you turn it in early.  What I mean by a higher grade is, you will have more time to work on the project, which will give you more time to make sure that there are fewer mistakes, and that the project is just the way the teacher would want it.

3.  You will impress your teachers.  Now, I know that this is not really important and that not everyone wants to be a teacher’s pet.  In fact, some cringe at the thought of being a teacher’s pet.  I have been a teacher’s pet a lot throughout the years, and I actually like it.  I believe that one reason for this was how quickly I got projects done.  I also believe that being a teacher’s pet does have some perks.  If you get your work done early, your teacher’s will be impressed.  There’s nothing wrong with an impressed teacher!

I hope that this article inspired you to try the over-achiever life at least for a little!  Let me know if you are an over-achiever or not, and whether you would switch to the other side!