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Originally Posted by cardinalduke  My undergraduate university was filled with highly successful individuals academically. They often possessed the level of intelligence and personal traits needed to show superior academic performance. (Example, self-disciplined, strong work ethic, strong problem solving skills). Yet these same individuals sometimes had astonishing troubles establishing meaningful and successful careers subsequently. |
This is a very interesting question. I can't do justice to this question since I'm still in college, but my take on this issue is that excellence in college academics involves development of a very narrow skill set, often at the exclusion of other crucial skills. The classmates I admire and seek to emulate the most are "good" (not exceptional) students who actively cultivate non-scholarly interests, and know how to be flexible with their priorities. They are willing to let their hair down, come and do something crazy with you even if it means skipping a class once in a while, and are a delight to be around. They aren't perfectionists. They are simply excellent human beings.
A fellow who lives across my room is president of the debate club, an expert juggler, and a math tutor. He's respectful, down-to-earth, and a great friend. There's no end to the range of things he and I (or anybody else) can talk about. He's sharp enough, although not a 4.0 student, that he'll give any academic genius a run for his money, and is likable and motivational for all who are around him, which can't be said for most "perfect students." I doubt he worries too much about finding a good place for him in the "real world."