Recorded on November 7, 2023.
Today, affluent teens in high-achieving schools are the most anxious and depressed, suffering from two to three times higher rates of substance abuse, depression, and anxiety than the national average. Meet award-winning journalist and author Jennifer Wallace to learn how we got here and what – if anything – we can do to reverse this harmful reality.
In this fireside chat, we’ll delve into the historical and societal context of our toxic achievement culture, the impact it is having on our teens, and where we go from here. In Jennifer Wallace’s new book, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—And What We Can Do About It, she draws on conversations with researchers, educators, and survey of nearly 6,000 parents and kids to extract why toxic achievement culture has taken hold in high-income areas and the devastating impact it is having on families. Based on her interviews with some of today’s leading child psychologists, Wallace will also offer potential solutions and a practical guide to mitigate the harm being done to the long-term well-being of our children.
We hope you will leave this program with new ideas about how to teach your children and grandchildren to strive towards excellence amidst today’s overachievement culture in a way that is more balanced, positive, and healthy.
