The Myth of Excellence | Rae Chesny | TEDxOvertown

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“Mama, I feel like I’m getting punished for being smart.” When Rae Chesny’s nine-year-old son said those words, she began to question the story of excellence she had inherited and was passing on to him. Cameron was doing well in school, but Rae realized that his achievements did not tell her how he was feeling. In this talk, Rae draws on her research into the life and writings of Zora Neale Hurston to look beyond the accomplishments for which we remember her. Rae finds a fuller story: even as Hurston created a lasting legacy, she experienced exhaustion, disappointment, and doubt. Her humanity did not diminish her excellence. Rae invites us to tell more honest stories about what achievement feels like and what it can cost. By making room for well-being alongside success, we can help the next generation pursue excellence without losing themselves in the process. Rae Chesny is a visionary Zora Neale Hurston scholar, interdisciplinary storyteller, and cultural practitioner whose work res

Tags: Achievement, Children, Education, English, History, TEDxTalks, [TEDxEID:69303]