Redefining Success in a Generation Obsessed with Young Achievers

The real cost of early blooming

Photo by Carlos de Miguel on Unsplash

In my first day of school, I was 5 years old, a year younger than my classmates.

My parents asked for me to be admitted early, because I was a smart kid. I can imagine the conversation between my parents and the principal of my school. I see in my mind my dad promising that I would be the best student and would outperform everyone, no matter my age.

That started the next 17 years of my education, where I was always the youngest in every classroom.

When I was 20, before even graduating, I started my first real professional job at PwC. Guess who was the youngest employee in the company?

Even today, that I’m 30 years old, I’m the youngest one in my team.

I have to say that being the youngest has great benefits. Everyone loves to help and mentor those who are younger. So I have been absorbing a lot of wisdom from those older than me. Because I grew up with older siblings, it was also very easy to fit in with them.

The obsession with young achievers

But to grant me these benefits, my parents made a promise to the principal that day. They promised that I would be the best and would…