Presenter:

Linda Emerick, associate professor, Towson University College of Education

Memorable Quotes:

"How many times are we steering people away from personal happiness because we’re not imaginative enough to see their life path? It doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s path." (Linda Emerick)

"There are many different routes to achievement. Maybe what’s wrong in education is that that’s not recognized." (“Laura”)

"Either grades should not be involved or they should not be particularly emphasized….people act as though the point of learning is to get good grades!" (“Laura”)

Summary:

In 1992 Linda Emerick conducted a study of former underachievers. She looked at ten gifted underachieving students, both male and female, who had turned underachievement around.

One of Linda Emerick’s subjects, “Laura,” had had some rough years in elementary and high school. Due to her slow work speed, her performance in academics was erratic. She suffered from depression and at times had suffered psychotic episodes. As a freshman in high school, she won acclaim for solving a mathematical theorem while failing her other courses. Later in high school, she was a National Merit Scholar.

“Laura” contacted Emerick some years later, asking if the researcher would like to know how she was doing now as an adult. Emerick did, and her findings were the basis for a follow-up study and for this session.

In the earlier study Emerick had learned that for “Laura” school filled just part of her life, not the most significant part. The same is true of work for her as an adult. At the age of 33 “Laura” works less than full time in her family’s business so that she has room in her life for the things that matter most to her, volunteer work, science, and music.

Her parents question her life path. They feel she has not put her gifts to full use. She, on the other hand, describes herself as “satisfied” with her life. She feels that she’s “emotionally involved in everything she does.” However, she realizes that to other people, she appears to be an underachiever.

Emerick explained that following up with “Laura” has had a major impact on her views. It caused Emerick to totally rethink her definition of achievement. Emerick found that “Laura” believes what she needs to do in life is to honor her talents and help others. “Is she doing that now?” asked Emerick. “Yes, she is. Maybe that’s what achievement is.”