Author alexandra robbins reports on the disturbing rise of overachiever culture in the overachievers. Written by alexandra robbins, the book follows four juniors, three seniors and one graduate of walt whitman high school in tony bethesda, maryland for a little. The secret lives of driven kids kindle edition by robbins, alexandra. Robbins brilliantly captures the thoughts and feelings of a generation pushed to excel while offering insight for turning this pervasive and potentially harmful drive into positive motivation. And timid or conservative behavior doesnt enter the discussion. Aug 07, 2007 in the overachievers, journalist alexandra robbins delivers a poignant, funny, riveting narrative that explores how our highstakes educational culture has spiraled out of control. The overachievers by alexandra robbins college confidential. This nonfiction novel is categorized into seventeen clear straightforward parts. During the year of her tenyear reunion, robbins returns to her high. The secret lives of driven kids is a nonfiction book written by alexandra robbins. The secret lives of driven kids, overinvolved parents are only one part of the problem. In the first chapter robbins introduces the students she followed along with the overachiever culture that has rearranged high schools only purpose into getting students into the most prestigious colleges and universities rather than the school that would be.
Students usually groan at the thought of reading a book because it is a school requirement, but i found the overachievers to be quite an. The secret lives of driven kids 9781402016 by robbins, alexandra and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Brayer ap english literature 5 october 2012 the overachievers, nonfiction alexandra robbins, 2006 brief summary and arrangement. A straighta student without exception since sixth grade, she took a rigorous.
During the year of her tenyear reunion, robbins returns to her high school, where she follows. Robbins compelling investigative journalism traces a year in the lives of several overachieving teens. She graduated from walt whitman high school in bethesda, maryland in 1994, and summa cum laude from yale university. Alexandra robbins page 193194 speaker key alexandra robbins journalistauthor walt whitman grad who too was an overachiever when she was a student in this nonfiction novel, robbins follows the lives of nine students as they navigate. The overachievers, by alexandra robbins essay 2319 words 10 pages. Her books focus on young adults, education, and modern college life and its aspects that are often overlooked or ignored by college administrators. Jul 05, 2007 the overachievers by alexandra robbins.
Frank was sitting at his bedroom desk when he found himself in a bizarre state of. The secret lives of driven kids by alexandra robbins 2,814 ratings, 3. An overwritten account of the overachiever culture that is stressing out teenagers. Ap frank is developing his own game and has launched the project on kickstarter. The overachievers by alexandra robbins by mark saldua on prezi. Her books focus on young adults, education, and modern college life. On the outside they look healthy, happy, and perfect, but upon closer look the reader realizes just how manic their lives and the lives of many other high scholars are. Aug 06, 2006 then i read the overachievers, which is almost nothing but college talk. Alexandra robbins study of contemporary american high school culture entitled, the overachievers. Alexandra robbins author, speaker, journalist, consultant.
The secret lives of driven kids ebook written by alexandra robbins. Feb 25, 2007 alexandra robbins is the author of the overachievers. Her work has appeared in publications including the new yorker, the atlantic monthly, washington post, usa today, cosmopolitan, mademoiselle, chicago tribune, self, washington monthly, time digital, salon, details, shape, pc, tennis week, and the journal of popular culture. Now, in the overachievers, robbins uses the same captivating style to explore how our highstakes educational culture has spiraled out of control. Alexandra robbins profiles eight students at walt whitman high school in bethesda, md. The overachievers alexandra robbins pdf the secret lives of. The secret lives of driven kids, is based on a visit to the high school she attended more than a. I just finished reading this book a few days ago, and i must say it has only confirmed my fears about what top public schools have become in the wake of no child left behind, satmania, us news rankings, and all that go with these cultural developments. Symbol alyssa image alexandra robbins uses imagery in her writing to create the picture of overworking students and the many conflicts they go through, as they strive to become number one. The overachievers, by alexandra robbins 2330 words 123. Read the overachievers pdf the secret lives of driven kids by alexandra robbins hachette books you cant just be the smartest. The overachievers is perfect for anyone agonizing his or her way through high school and beyond. Today, robbins argues, teens are overscheduled and. The overachievers by alexandra robbins is a non fiction book that follows the lives of nine high school college overachieving students.
During the year of her tenyear reunion, robbins returns to her high school, where she follows students including cj and others. In pledged, alexandra robbins followed four college girls to produce a. It reads like very good young adult fiction, thanks to its winning cast, its surprising plot twists and its pushy parents robbins is also a good writer, and she must. If you want to see what hes been up to or help him, you can do so here. During the year of her tenyear reunion, robbins returns to her high school, where she follows students, including cj and others. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Robbins identifies her main characters four juniors, three seniors and one alum. Five of her books have been new york times bestsellers. Alexandra robbins profiles eight students at walt whitman high school. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the overachievers. The secret lives of driven kids is a poignant, nonfiction work that touches upon the modern competitive education system, which has seemingly gone out of control. Now, in the overachievers, robbins uses the same captivating style to explore how our high stakes educational culture has spiraled out of control. Theres the nerdsoverachievers and finally, everyone in between that doesnt have a category, like the potheads and the punk rock kids.
Alexandra robbins a look at the world of teens who face unbearable pressure to succeed explores such issues as intense stress, sports rage, parental guilt, the study drug black market, and the cutthroat college. Review of the overachievers by alexandra robbins 1709. The bestselling author of pledged returns with a groundbreaking look at the pressure to achieve faced by americas teens in pledged, alexandra robbins. In the overachievers, journalist alexandra robbins delivers a poignant, funny, riveting narrative that explores how our highstakes educational culture has spiraled out of control. Today, robbins argues, teens are overscheduled and overworked. But what happens when a teenagers need to be at the top of the class becomes a perfectionist workaholism. The overachievers performance psychologist john eliot describes the characteristics found in overachievers. She graduated summa cum laudethe highest distinctionfrom yale only to realize on the very day of graduation that it didnt mean anything to her. Overachievers by alexandra robbins 1440 words bartleby. In alexandra robbins latest book the overachievers. The overachievers is part soap opera, part social treatise.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The overachievers by alexandra robbins having enough in a. Buy overachievers, the reprint by alexandra robbins isbn. In pledged, alexandra robbins followed four college girls to produce a riveting narrative that read like fiction.
Then i read the overachievers, which is almost nothing but college talk. The secret lives of driven kids, a nonfiction work by alexandra robbins, is a book i chose to read because it was a requirement for our english honors class. The overachievers by alexandra robbins overdrive rakuten. Using the example of some american teenagers, it centers upon overachievement in high school, emphasizing its negative effect in modern american society. Alexandra robbins is a journalist, lecturer, and author. The secret lives of driven kids by alexandra robbins. Alexandra robbins is the author of the overachievers. Taylor is the popular girl, and sam is the teachers pet. Alexandra robbins is a former staff member of the new yorker and the author of two new york times bestsellers. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Her work has appeared in publications including the new yorker, the atlantic monthly, washington post, usa today, cosmopolitan, mademoiselle, chicago tribune, self, washington monthly, time digital, salon, details, shape, pc, tennis week, and the journal of popular. She had published five books by the time she was 30, three of which were new york times bestsellers. By focusing her writing on the subjective narratives of characters who appear as case studies, her books read as novels with critical analysis essays interspersed throughout.
And all attended whitman high school, one of the nations top public schools and the setting for bestselling author alexandra robbins study of contemporary american high school culture entitled, the overachievers. Rather than earning grades for learning, students are obtaining artificial grades through cheating, and even resorting to nonprescribed medications to facilitate their study habits in order to get into their dream college. The nurses pledged the overachievers conquering your quarterlife crisis the geeks shall inherit the earth weve put. The overachievers by alexandra robbins hachette books. The overachievers, by alexandra robbins essay 2319 words. On the outside they look healthy, happy, and perfect, but upon closer look the reader realizes just how manic their lives and the lives of many other high. Robbins was a guest on the satirical program the colbert report on august 9 of 2006, during which colbert challenged claims robbins makes in the overachievers, citing some observations of robbins own experience, while she countered with observations about systemic problems resulting from a highly competitive system, the cheating that is endemic to competition and problems with standardized testing, arguing that the aforementioned conditions teach misplaced values. Essay on overachievers by alexandra robbins 1447 words cram. Aug 08, 2006 an overwritten account of the overachiever culture that is stressing out teenagers. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the overachievers. You have to be the most athletic, you have to be able to have the most fun, you have to be the prettiest, the best dressed, the. Robbins, an investigative journalist who has previously explored the secrets of yales skull and bones society secrets of the tomb, 2002 and those of college sororities pledged, 2004, returns after ten years to her old high school, walt whitman, in bethesda, md.