Well-Rounded or Worn-Out?
It’s 11 p.m., and I’m switching between editing photos, answering club messages and finishing an essay. On paper, it sounds impressive. In reality, it feels like I'm juggling for applause. I'm not the only one who feels this way. Talk to almost any student and you will hear the quiet exhaustion as they list out their achievements. Everyone is trying to stand out, whether it is joining clubs they don’t have time for or adding hobbies for the sake of LinkedIn. What once was meant to celebrate curiosity has become a silent competition that we are all losing. The idea of being “well-rounded” has become less about curiosity and more about performative multitasking.
How Well-Rounded Lost Its Meaning
The term well-rounded has been a staple in education for decades. It is a word commonly used by college counselors, scholarship panels and admissions offices. Originally, it was a reminder that learning shouldn’t stop at the classroom door. A well-rounded student was someone who explored different subjects and had a continuous desire for knowledge.
Somewhere along the way, well-rounded turned from an ideal of balance into a benchmark for "doing it all." Instead of cultivating interests, students began to collect them. The desire to be fluent in a language, skilled in a sport and active in clubs isn’t about growth anymore; it’s about optics. The goal is to look versatile. The result? Burnout disguised as ambition. Many students join organizations not because they’re passionate, but because they’re told they should. They sign up for debate clubs to seem articulate and take on leadership roles to fill their résumés.
On paper, I look exactly like the kind of student every brochure describes. I’m involved in leadership, journalism, clubs and many creative outlets like modeling. All of these make me appear well-rounded, but in reality, these endeavors often feel less like exploration and more like fragmentation. My time is shattered into tiny pieces. A shoot in the morning, a club meeting in the afternoon and an article deadline at night. It looks impressive, but sometimes I wonder if I’m learning anything deeply or just proving that I can handle chaos with a smile.
Students Who “Have It All Together” Feel It Too
Talking to other students made it clear that this pressure is everywhere. Raneem Grira is our student president who balances diplomacy work, while obtaining an environmental data science major, a Middle Eastern politics minor and works weekend shifts at Kith. She told me that the word well-rounded makes her think of someone who is "versatile" and "able to adapt efficiently into several different environments." Even someone with her confidence and experience acknowledges how heavy this expectation has become. She explained that the pressure grows when students are pushed to be "absolutely perfect at multiple things rather than comfortable." Raneem also shared that trying to fit this image once pulled her away from what mattered to her. She said she felt her work had more value if she presented “more things” instead of trusting her own perspective, and she now believes that mindset “undermines creativity.”
Rita Okwor, a second-year AUP student who is involved in almost every corner of campus life, gives us more insight. She is an RA, the economics and management department representative, the online editor in chief for Peacock, the president of the French Club, a tutor in the Writing Lab and a member of Black and Abroad. She also works with Paris Erasmus Life and somehow manages six classes at the same time. Rita told me that staying busy helps her feel organized, but she also admitted that “I think it’s mostly for applications. At least that’s why I do the majority of it.” Her idea of a well-rounded student is someone who is “doing well both academically and outside of school,” which shows how deeply this definition shapes what students believe success should look like.
Hearing from two students who seem endlessly capable poses the question of what we’re really being taught.
The Real Cost
Research shows that students carrying heavy academic loads often experience worse mental health. A 2022 study by Barbayannis and colleagues found a strong link between academic stress and lower well-being. The American Psychological Association also reports that more than 60% of college students meet the criteria for at least one mental health issue, which is proof that this pressure is widespread.
Redefining What Actually Matters
If this well-rounded ideal once encouraged exploration, it now needs a serious rewrite. Real success isn’t about collecting experiences. The most impactful thinkers, artists and scientists didn’t divide their attention among ten pursuits. They dedicated themselves to one idea until it changed the world.
Educators and universities should take note. Instead of rewarding the busiest résumés, schools should value students who explore a few passions deeply. A culture that celebrates focus and genuine interest would produce more fulfilled students and better thinkers.
Maybe being well-rounded was never the problem. Maybe the issue is how we defined it. True well-roundedness isn’t about mastering every skill or joining every club. True well-roundedness is about knowing yourself well enough to choose what matters. In the end, the most well-rounded thing we can do might be to stop pretending we have to be more.
