About Dear Overachievers

About Me

Hi! I’m Soferri, a high school rising senior in Florida.

If you’re here, you’re probably an overachieving student who has naturally developed behavioral patterns or traits like perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and workaholism.

Here’s something you should know about me:

I’ve consistently maintained a competitive GPA with multiple extracurriculars at rigorous schools.

And no, I promise I am not sharing this to brag about my grades. I am sharing this to let you know that I am just like you. I get it.

Traits like perfectionism are common in overachievers—especially if they have been high-achieving for most of their lives (like me). Why? These traits and patterns stem from a gradual association of achievement with safety, worth, and identity.

For most of my life I equated success with working harder than everyone else—even if it meant losing sleep, forgoing normal social activities, and stifling emotions that accompanied stress.

While I was happy about my success, I couldn’t revel in it because I was always striving for the next goal, consumed with meeting high standards, and plagued by all of the recurring “what-ifs.”

I was aware that I had perfectionism and everything that stemmed from it, but I was also convinced that perfectionism was what helped me to succeed.

So I ignored it…until it started to progressively take a toll on my overall well-being.

That's when I realized that all of my overachieving issues were harming me, not helping me.

When I started to do research on the “overachieving syndrome” topic, I realized it wasn’t just me…billions of hard-working teens were unknowingly damaging themselves. Through research, I also learned that those who did nothing about their patterns and traits developed serious mental issues like heightened anxiety, depression, and clinical burnout in their adult lives.

But the most grave and frightening statistic of all was that these behavioral patterns and traits were contributing to my generation’s growing suicide rate.

This was a rude awakening for me, as it should be for you.

This isn’t just a minor issue. It’s an epidemic.

Nonetheless, it’s an issue that is not fully recognized—especially in teens—and is therefore not being adequately addressed.

That’s the reason I decided to take action, raise awareness, offer insight & advice, and recommend resources through this newsletter.

What is the Dear Overachievers Newsletter?

With what’s at stake, ignorance of these common patterns and traits—perfectionism, workaholism, imposter syndrome, etc.—is not acceptable.

Dear Overachievers is meant to:

Raise awareness about the overachiever syndrome

Identify and define the negative behavioral patterns—such as perfectionism—associated with overachiever syndrome

Highlight the detrimental effects of these deeply entrenched tendencies

Reassure overachievers that they can maintain their high aspirations and succeed without losing themselves in the process, complemented by reputable sources.

Who is the Target Audience?

While this newsletter was developed to help students (from middle school to graduate programs), it is also relevant and beneficial for overachieving adults, parents with overachieving children, and anyone interested in learning more about the overachiever syndrome and its effects.

What You Can Expect:

Multiple times a week, I will be posting content that

Describes mental phenomena and behaviors like perfectionism using medical analogies to demonstrate their significance and convey the urgent need to overcome these behaviors

Provides advice with simple and effective step-by-step instructions on how to overcome these issues based on verifiable sources

Includes ideas and memorable quotes from professionals working within the mental health industry and/or specializing in mental care and life coaching for high-achievers

Offers additional general advice, anecdotes, and insights for specific subsets of overachievers

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this newsletter, on this website, and in any downloadable resources is for educational and informational purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, psychologist, or certified life coach, and this content should not be considered professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you’re struggling with your mental health or emotional well-being, please consult a licensed mental health professional. If you’re in crisis, contact a qualified mental health service or emergency helpline in your area.