Throughout any and every high school, there are certain people that excel in particular categories more than others. It could range from the most athletic student performing well on the field, to the smartest student scoring high in the classroom. Society tends to praise this “special individuals” and put them on a platform. Or at least it is perceived that way. Many students strive to be more like these above and beyond students who are at the top of what they do, but do they really know the price at which it comes with? It is a well kept secret that being top dog is not all it’s cracked up to be. Don’t get it wrong, being one of the best at a certain something isn’t a negative thing, but their are negative traits that come with it that we as society create. The amount of pressure our peers put on these students to maintain their role that they have worked so hard to achieve can be extremely stressful psychologically on a shining student. A student that is normally the smartest in class may feel that they must know the answer to every question, especially when other students ask for their help. This is the same thing as how a star athlete is always expected to make the great plays, or how a performer is always expected to have a good outing and nail their scenes every single show. But, the key word there is the word expected. Society puts extra pressure on the golden kids of today and always expects the best every time no matter what they are good at, forcing them to fear a tarnished reputation.

GOLDEN INTELLIGENCE

Having a reputation as the smart kid may sound pretty nice at first, always knowing all the answers, getting good grades, etc. But, that’s not all there is to it. The pressure is everywhere, and star pupil freshman Natalie Hill knows it.

“Being known as the smart girl usually doesn’t bother me,” Hill said. “Most of my friends are in all of those honor classes with me and are just as, if not more intelligent. However, there are a few occasions where I get volunteered to go first for presentations, or I’ll answer the teacher’s question and kids say, ‘Oh of course Natalie got that right.’ It adds to the pressure I put on myself, because now I feel like I have to meet not only my expectations for myself, but also my classmates.”

Living up to the expectation and having the pressure of always getting the ‘A’ can be a struggle. A big part of life is how you are perceived by others, and in today’s world, it is a constant struggle, even among the smartest kids in school.

“I do have a little regret about the way others see me, but at the same time I feel that I should be lucky they think highly of me in this regard,” she said. “It gets a little confusing, and then I have all of the guilty, ‘people struggle in class and you’re complaining about doing well,’ thoughts.”

Nowadays, the last people that should be feeling under pressure to perform well in the classroom are 4.0 GPA students. Yet, what is expect out of the golden academic students can be a lot to handle.

GOLDEN PHYSICALITY

On the field is a similar story to the one in the classroom. Star running back senior Griffin Hill can’t help but be compared to past superstars in ACHS history. For every yard rushed, there was a mumble for Hill being compared to Cameron White, Antioch’s superstar running back of the 2008 state semifinal football team. This can usually wear down an exceptional athlete, always being compared to someone else, but this didn’t phase Hill all too much.

“Being compared to White is something I couldn’t really avoid with our running styles being so similar,” G. Hill said. “But, it has really given me something to strive for over the years because of all the records he’s broken. It has allowed me to have the mindset of not wanting to be compared to him, and wanting to make a name for myself.”

Although G. Hill handled the pressure, the pressure still persisted–it wasn’t easily shaken. Having the reputation as one of the best players on the field can bring a lot of attention their direction.

“Being a good athlete can be very pressuring at times because you know in a close game people are going to be looking to you to make the big play, but it is also a cool thing because if you think you’re a competitive person, then you should live for the pressure, which I do,” G. Hill said.

Many athletes have fell to the pressure and have been in such a bright spotlight that their reputation had demolished itself. This may have happened to White, after recent incidents with the law, but regardless of how great someone is, the golden egg can spoil.

GOLDEN PERFORMANCE

Performing can be one of the hardest things to conquer for anyone. As if there isn’t enough pressure standing on stage in front of a large audience, being the lead role in a musical can add even more pressure. Sophomore RJ Vazquez acknowledges the risk on this reputation and takes it in full stride.

“Being the lead is a lot of pressure,” Vazquez said. “It’s tough to learn all the lines, songs and dances all at once. It really is a lot to take on. And being an athlete, [being the lead] is very comparable to sports. The more hard work you put in, the more you get out. The fine arts family is also one of the most welcoming areas of the school which really helped me through everything.”

Vazquez realizes there will be critics, but stayed comfortable through the support of the great atmosphere of the fine arts department.

GOLDEN RIVALRY

What can be even harder to see than a golden kid struggling because of pressure, is being a family member of a “golden child.” Senior Nick Filippone knows his freshman brother Dan is an up-and-coming basketball star. It’s not always the athlete that may feel the need to constantly perform well, but also their siblings, who feels the need to live up to their brother or sister.

“In theory, I really shouldn’t compare myself to my brother as we have different athletic playing styles, we are different people, etc,” Filippone said. “But, in reality, I do at times. I get a little jealous of his 50 point games and his future with basketball and things, and I do feel embarrassed that I haven’t made it as far as he has. There is pressure from others as people will look at my brother and I and make the comparison that shouldn’t be made in my opinion.”

It can be a lot to handle having a sibling that is amazing at something you’re not so talented at but Filippone handles it exceptionally well.

“In all honesty, it’s going to affect everyone in some way,” Filippone said. “But we really shouldn’t let what others say bother us. As I feel I’m doing a much better job of this, I also believe that everyone can learn from anyone and I still keep my mind open for progression in my life.”

With an open mind, Filippone is able to handle the pressure of having the reputation as a brother of a golden child.

They are everywhere and in every category. There is always golden children that are placed on pedestals just to be critiqued at by society and to be broken down. But why does society feel the need to add more pressure on these shining kids and make it harder for them to do what they are so very good at? It’s can be hard to see, but being top dog sure does have its challenges.