Have you finally learned to separate your self-worth from your achievements?
By Zuko Komisa

Being known as the “smart kid” starts out as a massive ego boost.
You land top marks, adults shower you with praise, and overnight, academic success becomes your whole identity. But what happens when that childhood title becomes a heavy weight you carry for the rest of your life?
That endless chase for academic validation where your self-worth hinges entirely on your report card doesn’t just vanish when you graduate.
It sneaks right into university halls, postgraduate studies, and eventually the workplace.
It transforms into relentless perfectionism, crippling fear of failure, constant comparison with peers, and a nagging sense of guilt the moment you dare to sit back and rest.
Even when you’re achieving brilliant results, a tiny voice inside whispers that it’s still not enough.
Drive 959 with Glen Lewis, Kgomoto Meso and Skhumba Hlophe recently asked if chasing academic validation shapes the person you are today?
Listen to the full conversation here:
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