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"It is a happy talent to know how to play."

When "Achievement" is Toxic: My Thoughts on the (most recent) Gunn High School Suicide, and Raising Resilient Children

1/30/2015

64 Comments

 
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The Palo Alto Unified School District is reeling after yet another student suicide. This tragedy has triggered conversations about academic pressure and mental health in this ruthlessly high-achieving area.

Suicide and mental health are incredibly complex issues. But let's be honest: the culture at Gunn and many surrounding schools is toxic. During my work as a college counselor and life coach, I heard some pretty depressing stories that were in no way reminiscent of my high school experience. ​
"Everyone cries when grades come out -- even the boys," one student told me. "The lucky ones cry because they're relieved. But usually we cry because we didn't do well enough."

"I was never interested in the robotics club, but someone told my mom it was important to get into the UC's, so I've been in it for four years," related another.

"I don't like to go into too many details about my extracurriculars when I talk to my parents," a third student confided, "because I'm afraid they would say, 'This is how you spend your time after school?' and make me quit."

In the wake of this most recent suicide, I also learned that Gunn students have a tradition of writing the name of their college on their graduation caps. Not only is this extremely tacky... but it's also sort of sick. Perhaps one of the most visual representations of what's wrong with the "achievement" culture. 
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Because why take this opportunity to celebrate your progress, friendships, memories and experiences, when we could just have a "What college did you get into?" pissing contest?
I say this in no way to criticize my students or their parents -- they were only doing what they thought was necessary for a good future. But for most students, the key to a good future is a healthy and enriching present. As I wrote in Good Schools Don't Turn Kids Into Zombies, the most successful young adults I know are not the ones who got straight As. They're the ones who were given space, encouragement and resources to develop their own intrinsic interests -- whether through entering egg drop competitions or playing basketball or building sets for the school play. They are now running their own companies (one of my friends is even developing a flying car!) -- or at the very least, making enough money and loving their lives. 

And at the end of the day, isn't that what really matters? 

In this blog post, I will show you two ways to make sure you raise happy, resilient (and, ultimately, successful) children. I also hope to convince you that straight A's, perfect SATs and top colleges aren't the only path to success -- and, indeed, that the skills required to get straight A's are largely useless in the modern professional world. 

***

To raise happy and resilient kids, start by doing the following:

1. Let them fail. 

You read that correctly. Sometimes, when we're determined to get our kid into the best college, we insulate them from any kind of failure, ever. 

"Oh, you got a B on the math test? I'll talk to your teacher about it -- if she won't give you a re-take, I'll get her fired!"

"Oh, you forgot your violin and are going to get an F for the day in music? Here, let me just leave work, drive home, get your violin, drive it to your school, leave it at the principal's office for you, and then drive back to work to finish my workday -- because if you get an F for the day in music, you'll never get into Princeton!"

"I don't think you got to play enough in the game today -- I'll talk to your coach to make sure you get more time next game."

When you're willing to drop everything in your life -- whether a social, professional, personal or spousal commitment -- to insulate them from small failures and minor consequences, two very bad things happen:

1. You send a powerful social signal that failure is not acceptable. Ever. You send the message that this one high school quiz is more important than your job, your clients, your relationships -- your anything! Failure is the end of the world. It won't matter if you say to your child, "I love you for who you are, regardless of your grades," if your actions scream otherwise. 

2. You rob them of the chance to develop coping skills. You rob them the chance to ask themselves, "What did I do wrong? What can I do differently next time?" You rob them of the realization, "Wow. I really didn't give that my best effort, and it showed. Maybe I should prepare more or differently next time." You rob them of the chance to feel a little bit of anger, a little bit of hurt, even a little bit of shame -- and then learn how to deal with these complicated and painful emotions. So, now, how are they supposed to deal with a major hurt, such as not getting into their first-choice school, having their heart broken or getting cut from JV their senior year (or, God forbid, a serious injury or illness)?

When you insulate your child from failure, you aren't building a perfect resume. You're building weakness and dependence. So instead of always stepping in, always running interference and sending the terrible message that failure=death... just step back. Let them handle it their own way. Obviously, if something major happens, you're going to need to take a bigger role. But as long as it's something minor, your job is simply to support.

And, if necessary, follow up with a conversation that shows them that they are fine, you are fine, and everything will be okay. Help them further develop coping skills by asking questions like:

"In your own words, tell me what happened."
"Why do you think this happened?"
"Can you think of anything you could do differently next time?"
"It sounds like you're handling this fine on your own, but is there anything I can do to help?"

Even if you are angry or disappointed, try to remain neutral during this discussion. To make sure they feel understood and validated, repeat what they said back to them. Literally say, "I heard you say that _____, and so you _____. Is that correct?" 
2. Let them explore.

I read this awesome book once. It was called A Whole New Mind: Why Right Brainers Will Rule the Future, by Daniel H. Pink. I highly recommend that you buy the book and read the entire thing, but if you need the TL;DR (that's Internet for "too long; didn't read"), it's this:

Once upon a time, America was "discovered." There was land everywhere, and people who could farm well had stable jobs and could make a good living. It was the beginning of the Agricultural Age.

Then, the steam engine happened. It was the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, and, in turn, the Industrial Age. People with strong hands, good hand-eye coordination and tireless work ethic were successful in this economy. 

But then! The Information Age happened. Universities began churning out "knowledge workers," like doctors, accountants and lawyers. People who could memorize huge amounts of information were rewarded in this economy -- hence the fact that over half of America's top graduates do the same six jobs after graduation... even though, I regret to inform you, the Information Age is over. 

Yet again, the world has changed. We are more connected -- to both technology and the rest of the globe -- than ever. We can outsource knowledge and factory work with the click of a mouse. We can automate machines and computers to do much of the labor, memorization and thinking that was previously only achievable by humans. According to venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, 80% of what doctors do can now be done better by machines. That obviously includes many cognitive tasks, like diagnosis and prescribing medications. If all your child can do is memorize information and regurgitate it in tests and papers... they aren't going to be very valuable in the Conceptual Age.

So. What skills will make your child valuable in the job market? Anything that can't be done better by a computer or cheaper overseas. According to Pink, this boils down to six essential skills:
  1. Design – Moving beyond function to engage the sense.
  2. Story – Narrative added to products and services - not just argument. Best of the six senses.
  3. Symphony – Adding invention and big picture thinking (not just detail focus).
  4. Empathy – Going beyond logic and engaging emotion and intuition.
  5. Play – Bringing humor and light-heartedness to business and products.
  6. Meaning – the purpose is the journey, give meaning to life from inside yourself.
At the time of writing, none of these skills are really being "taught" in school. But! The good news is, your child can develop these skills on their own by having the freedom (and encouragement) to explore their interests, and develop an understanding of the needs of their community in a way that only humans can. 
Need some examples? Here are a couple of students who became millionaires by the time they were 25:
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Jermain Griggs (hearandplay.com) is worth $5 million -- and it all started with his love of music. He started a website to help people learn to play music by ear, rather than reading sheet music. His passion shone through -- and, after a lot of work, was making millions of dollars doing something that started out as an intrinsic interest. 

(Also worth noting: Jermain went to UC Irvine. Not Harvard. Not Stanford. Because where you go to school doesn't matter if you've had all the creativity squashed out of you.)

Susan Gregg-Koger (modcloth.com) is worth $15 million -- because she had an interest in vintage fashion. Rather than focusing on straight A's, she devoted much of her time in college to selling clothes online. Now her full-time gig, she provides clothing, shoes, wedding dresses, accessories and household items to customers around the world. Check it out: 
I'm really glad her parents never told her that she should spend less time on thrifting and more time on studying for the SATs or the MCATs. Because then this amazing store would not exist, and Susan would be slaving away passionlessly behind a desk (or, just as likely, competing with hundreds of other applicants for the same $35,000/year job) somewhere. 
Emerson Spartz (GivesMeHope, OMG-Facts, MuggleNet) loved Harry Potter. At age 12, he launched www.the-best-harrypotter-links.homestead.com -- and his parents gave him the space to work on it when other kids were busy with school or homework. It evolved into MuggleNet, which evolved into an expertise in HTML, which evolved into an innate understanding of virality and, eventually, a multi-million dollar company. 

I'm not saying school shouldn't matter. It does! It's a great way to learn how to work hard towards a goal. It's a great way to develop self-control and self-discipline. It's a great way to explore a wide range of topics, from history to math to shop. It's a place where kids can build an identity, coping skills, social skills and empathy -- if we let them. And it's a time when kids can learn how to fail, how to take a risk, with only minor consequences. 

But based on the conversations I've heard about Gunn lately, this is not what high school is about right now. As a parent, you can't single-handedly change the culture. But you can start with the advice and examples in this post to help your child develop resilience and begin to explore things that give their life meaning -- whether that's vintage fashion, toilets... or something completely different. 

***

If you enjoyed this post and want more recommended reading, I suggest:

How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid For Success, by former Stanford dean Julie Lythcott-Haims
The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids, by psychiatrist Madeline Levine
Teach Your Children Well: Why Values and Coping Skills Matter More Than Grades, Trophies or "Fat Envelopes," 
by psychiatrist Madeline Levine

In addition to:

APs Make You Look Complacent, NOT Curious (especially if you go to a school like PALY or Gunn)
Going to Stanford Doesn't Mean You'll Get a Stanford Education - And Going to a State School Doesn't Mean You Won't

4 Reasons a Tutor is the WORST Thing You Can Do For Your Child
High-Achieving Teens Feel Empty. Therapy Doesn't Help, But This Might

Thoughts or suggestions? Please share in the comments!
64 Comments
jetpilot
2/2/2015 11:36:00 am

Agree. Dovetails nicely with piece published Saturday in Palo Alto Weekly. Loved the examples of successful people who did NOT take AP classes. My oldest daughter is Cal graduate and PhD, now Physics professor at MIT and one of the world's leading young particle physicists-- took NO AP classes in high school. The toxic hyper-competitive culture at Gunn needs to change-- even if many students and parents complain.

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Eva Glasrud link
2/3/2015 07:18:24 am

That's awesome -- especially considering the tragic shortage of female science professors at top institutions! It sounds like she's forged quite a path for herself :)

If you don't mind my asking, what sorts of activities did she enjoy in high school and before? I've found that the best engineers I know spent a lot of time taking things apart, and the best biologists spent a lot of time experimenting with explosives or playing in creeks. But I don't know very many physicists, so I'd be curious to hear...

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psychologist
2/3/2015 03:30:11 am

Loved this, and am copying over an excerpt of a comment I left on a different post re: the examples in this post.

You don't have to be an internet millionaire to be successful. It's pretty obvious that those were extreme examples, meant to inspire kids to take a chance. Maybe you don't make $5M selling ear training lessons, but you end up making a steady passive income of $500 a month (even $50/month would be an extra $600 per year!), which will massively help them pay off their inevitable student loans. It could even help them get the momentum they need to start running a small music lesson business. Or maybe no one buy their lessons, and, in the process of trying to figure out why, they discover a passion for statistics or a social media marketing genius. Either way, it's a much better use of their time than... what? Spending several extra hours writing a paper for a required class they not interested in and will never think about again, so they get an A- instead of a B+?

I know people don't like being told that they're wrong, but try to take it in stride. And try to apply these lessons to your parenting. Your kids will thank you.

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jumpstart
2/3/2015 06:14:41 am

While I agree with your principle of failing often and exploring more, I believe that the blame on parents is unwarranted. There are deeper causes for such suicide tragedies.

When you criticized a parent saying to his/her child "if you get an F for the day in music, you'll never get into Princeton," did you stop for a moment and ponder whether that statement was true? It is well-known fact among high school parents that certain universities ONLY accept students with almost all As. A few Bs may be OK, but a C is definitely a no-no. And all-As is not even enough! Then what do you think about how these college admission processes need to be changed?

When you listed all these people who started their own business without going to prestigious schools, did you know that in Silicon Valley, where Gunn High is located, big-name VCs are obsessed with investing exclusively in top-tier school graduates? In Silicon Valley, if you are not from a top-tier school or some frat boy club, you are not relevant as an entrepreneur. You can bootstrap, but do you know how hard it is? Should VCs be changed too?

There are much more...

This is sad that as a society, we have given too much credits to top-tier university graduates. Parents are victims too.

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Eva Glasrud link
2/3/2015 07:09:23 am

"Blame" is too strong a word. I think parents do what they do because they want the best for their child -- there are just a lot of misperceptions about what that means.

Did I ever stop to think that getting an F for the day in music might actually mean not getting into Princeton. Well, not specifically Princeton, no. I don't know how they do things over there... but I did get in to Stanford. I went to a very competitive high school, and I got PLENTY of B's. I took one AP (AP Bio) -- and only out of genuine interest (I'd gone to scuba diving camp the previous summer and fallen in love with first aid, and was considering being a doctor -- I concurrently studied Marine Biology and History of Math, because those also seemed really interesting). I seem to remember there being an AP test you could take in the spring, where the high score is a 5. I didn't bother to take it -- I figured if I took biology in college, I'd be able to test in to the appropriate level once I got there.

I didn't study for the SATs, but I still did pretty well on them the first time, so I didn't take them again.

I wrote my college essays about scuba diving, and how it relates to my interest in biology and chemistry; riding my bike to the beach with my friends, stopping to fix them with whatever tools or duct tape we had with us all along the way; and something else, which was probably at least a little about my faith.

I didn't get straight A's at Stanford, either. But because I did undergraduate research in the psychology department and had close relationships with my advisors and professors, I was able to get into the grad program I wanted.

While I was at Stanford, I had the opportunity to work with Joseph Brown, PhD, who serves as a recruitment officer at Stanford. He shared his personal experience being on the admissions committee. He told me that, at least at Stanford, admissions officers are more interested in how you've taken advantage of (or created) opportunities at your school. It can be impressive to have taken 8 APs. But it can also be impressive to have taken one AP AND started your own t-shirt company (that eventually failed). It can be impressive to have won the national chess championships... and it can be impressive to have played chess for hours every day, even though you weren't very good, because you were determined to improve. (I kid you not. I have a good friend who went to Gunn and then Stanford, and her essay was abot how terrible she was at chess.)

I'm not so sure I agree with your perception of VCs being obsessed with top-tier grads, either. I mean, I think we can all agree that VCs are idiots. They overlook a lot of the top talent, based purely on race and gender. Did you see the "What Silicon Valley Thinks of Women" article last week? (http://www.newsweek.com/2015/02/06/what-silicon-valley-thinks-women-302821.html) Among the many shocking quotes in the article:

"VCs are not funding women. According to a study by Babson College, only 2.7 percent of the 6,517 companies that received venture funding from 2011 to 2013 had women CEOs. Meanwhile, the Kauffman report found that female-run startups produce a 31 percent higher return on investment than startups run by men."

So to answer your question, YES! VCs should change, too! They'd be at least 31% richer if they did.

I'm not surprised to hear that they sometimes overlook entrepreneurs who didn't go to top schools. But that's not the end of the road for non-Ivy entrepreneurs. I mean, the GoPro guys went to UCSD. Steve Jobs, Sam Walton, Larry Ellison, Richard and Maurice McDonald, Marc Benioff and Kiichiro Toyoda didn't go to top-tier schools, either.

In fact, according to research by Vivek Wadhwa:

"In the first project, we looked at the background of 317 immigrants who started tech companies in the U.S. We expected the vast majority to be from the most prestigious institutions in their home countries such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and China’s Fudan and Tsinghua Universities. We were surprised to learn that a public college, Delhi University, graduated twice as many Silicon Valley company founders as did IIT-Delhi. And that two other public colleges, Osmania and Bombay University, trumped nearly all of the other IITs. China’s Tianjin and Shanghai Jiao Tong Universities graduated more Silicon Valley founders than did Fudan and Tsinghua.

These study subjects were immigrants, and we weren’t sure if this would be the same with American graduates. So we looked into the educational background of successful American tech company founders. We found that the 628 U.S.-born tech founders we surveyed received their education from 287 unique universities. Almost every major U.S. university was represented. The top ten institutions in this group accounted for only 19% of the entire sample. To be fair, this shows that top-tier universities are overrepresented in the ranks of entrepreneurs. We also found that Ivy League schools,

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Eva Glasrud link
2/3/2015 07:14:35 am

Oh. I guess the last part of my post got cut off. Here it is:

"We also found that Ivy League schools, which graduate 1.6% of American students, were 8% of our sample. The point is that 81% of the tech company founders came from “regular” schools—and don’t bear the same financial burden as the elite.

In a third research project, we looked into the backgrounds of the founders of 549 successful businesses across a number of high-growth industries. The proportion of Ivy-Leaguers was even smaller (about 6% of the sample). We also found that MBAs tended to start companies sooner after graduation (13 years after) than bachelor’s degree holders (17 years after). And both these groups were quicker to found startups than PhDs – who typically waited 21 years from the time they graduated to start their ventures. Computer Science/IT grads became entrepreneurs sooner than MBAs (13 years vs. 15 years) and applied science majors (20 years)."

Read more at "Want to be an Entrepreneur? Don't go to Harvard." (http://blogs.wsj.com/accelerators/2013/08/15/vivek-wadhwa-if-you-want-to-be-an-entrepreneur-dont-go-to-harvard/)

Parents are victims, too. That's why they get so stressed, so involved, in their high schooler's life. But I'm certain that your child can stand out more and have more success and mental health in life if they spend time working on things they love and applying that to their schoolwork... than if they are just a list of grades and extracurriculars.

Feel free to contact me if you want to discuss this further.

Anonymous
2/3/2015 09:13:41 am

I think your point about start ups not necessarily being founded by people from elite schools is a good one. I also thought I'd add to this. My father was a senior executive at a fortune 500 technology company. During his long tenure at the company, he told me that the one school where he had to fire the most MBAs from was Harvard. He said they were strong on academic knowledge of business but not practical knowledge, and that they also often felt better than all their peers because of the university they went to and therefor didn't work well with others on the team because they considered themselves better than other. My father himself went to a small liberal arts school for undergrad and did his graduate work at a mid range public school in the midwest. Yet he rose to the top ranks of the company. Likewise he told me about another senior executive that didn't even have a 4 year degree, rather started as a technician with an associates degree and still rose to the top levels of the company.

He told me these stories when I didn't get into my first choice school. However as I've gotten older and learned more about the real world I have taken to heart just how true this is. I wanted to point this out because even if you don't start a company yourself, but rather work inside a company, it's really performance that matters. Having a degree from a top university, if it makes you feel superior than your colleagues, can actually be a liability. Often top academic universities teach less practical knowledge and more purely academic skills as well.

I think it was worth adding this example because not everyone will be an entrepreneur but the concepts you are discussing apply more broadly to people working at a job a large company or other more traditional careers as well. In the end it is real creative thinking and talent that matter, as well as your ability to work with others and other soft skills that don't necessarily get taken into account by the college admissions system that determine success. I really enjoyed your post.

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Eva Glasrud link
2/3/2015 09:19:06 am

So true -- thanks for sharing! I have an amazingly wise mentor who once told me, "Your Stanford diploma will only get you so far, Eva. When you're right out of school and there's not a lot on your resume, people will go, 'Wow, you went to Stanford! That's great!' But a few years out of school, people are going to start to say, 'Yeah, you went to Stanford five years ago... but what have you done since?'"

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Julie Lythcott-Haims link
2/3/2015 12:27:23 pm

Great piece and thanks for the shout-out Eva!

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Eva Glasrud link
2/6/2015 05:54:33 am

Thanks, Dean Julie! I'm so excited for your book to come out, you don't even know.

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Gunn Alumnus
2/4/2015 03:28:18 pm

Dear Eva,
Your article has several attacks on Gunn which are unfounded and unwarranted. First off, your sources you used as quotes at the beginning of your article are at minimum exaggerations. First being, never have I seen “everyone” crying after grades come out, whether in joy or in agony. Yes, some people do react strongly to a bad or good grade, but I take issue with this blanket statement about the entire Gunn student population. If a student did actually tell you this, he was clearly speaking out of hyperbole or exaggeration, as it is a fairly rare occurrence for even one student to react this strongly to a singular grade. You make it sound as if Gunn students live from grade to grade and I can assure you that we do not. The student who claims to have unwillingly joined the robotics team for 4 years is an incredibly rare specimen in that he or she does not represent the robotics team nor the typical Gunn student. This scenario is no longer even possible as the team has not allowed freshman to apply in many year. All but a few students on this team are driven, and thoroughly enjoy the team.

Furthermore, I take great offense at your description of putting our future colleges on our graduation caps as a “pissing contest.” This opinion exemplifies your lack of understanding of our school. Our graduation caps represent our proud achievements, and I can assure you that they are worn with pride in whatever school we got into. As an example to demonstrate this pride to you, every one of these caps were handmade by the students themselves—we put effort into these because we are proud of what we’ve accomplished. We treat graduation as a culmination of our accomplishments, and almost all of us are proud of where we are going. We don’t, as you seem to think, look around bitterly, thinking about which colleges accepted us and which did not. Look at the picture you used, I see only smiles, no bitter disappointment or evidence of this said pissing contest.

You make it sound as if we students are all ignorant: “they were only doing what they thought was necessary for a good future. “ You make it sound as if it is wrong to want to achieve great things, or excel in what we do. In fact, you also mention that “the most successful young adults I know are not the ones who got straight As… they're the ones who were given space.” My question to you, is why not both? You mention that good grades, scores and colleges aren’t the only path to success, but they do represent one of the surest. Most of the brightest students I know were self-motivated and definitely were given this space. You may point to the high level of APs taken by Gunn students, but instead I’d like to point out that it is lucky for Gunn to offer such stimulating courses in a large variety of subjects. The AP classes I took at Gunn were some of the most interesting classes I took, and I took every one because I wanted to, not because I felt forced.

Finally, I implore you to research and reach out to more students and staff and not rely on evidence “based on the conversations I've heard about Gunn.” If you talk to the overwhelming majority of students, they will indicate that the environment at Gunn does not force us to focus solely on grades or test scores. In the suicide you are referring, the parents of the student released a press statement specifically noting that academic stress was not a factor in the student’s depression. Gunn has about 97% of students go onto postsecondary education, which is no small feat. We strive to succeed academically not because we are forced, but because we know we can. To take that away from us would be a waste of talent and capabilities, and only generate boredom and apathy. We believe that we can achieve great things, and so we strive to gather the necessary tools. In the words of John F Kennedy, we choose to challenge ourselves not because they are easy, but because they are hard.

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Eva Glasrud link
2/6/2015 07:36:17 am

Thanks for your feedback - though I can assure you, I wasn't exaggerating any of this. The quotes I used in the beginning of the article were pretty much verbatim (I have a great memory for that sort of thing). Is it possible my students were exaggerating? Sure. But they seemed pretty darn authentic when they were sharing their stories with me.

Admittedly, the "robotics" student wasn't really a robotics student. I changed that detail to protect my student's privacy. The point wasn't about robotics. It was about a kid participating in a STEM club (or even CSF, or any other club the student is doing) for extrinsic, rather than intrinsic, reasons.

However, I stand by what I said about the graduation caps, though. Because getting into your first-choice school isn't an achievement. No matter how amazing and smart and "perfect" you are... there's only a 5% chance you'll get into an Ivy. When I was at Stanford, the admission rate was closer to 10% -- and even then, I knew that I was at least a little lucky to have been accepted. I've been called a lot of things, and "arrogant" is one of them. However, I have never been so foolish as to think my high school achievements were somehow "better" than those of the 9 students who didn't get my spot. We ALL had good grades. We ALL had good test scores. We ALL worked hard. We ALL experienced setbacks, failures... and major victories.

In other words, I truly believe that students who get into Stanford and Harvard aren't "better" than kids who only got into their second-choice (or safety) school. They're just luckier. So calling the college you got into an "accomplishment" is like calling finding $5 on the street during your run an "accomplishment."

On the one hand, you wouldn't have found that $5 if you hadn't braved the rain and cold weather. But you're not a better runner than I am just because you found $5 and I didn't. (You can read more of my thoughts on this on my new post that you totally inspired: http://www.thehappytalent.com/blog/getting-into-your-first-choice-college-is-not-an-accomplishment )

I don't think that excelling in what you do and doing what you love are mutually exclusive. I've just read and observed that high-achievers spend more and more time doing things they "should" do, than things they actually WANT to do. I studied psychology, so I'm aware of the very negative mental health implications of this. It scares me enough that I spend hours each week reading and writing about it, basically for free.

If you took the classes you took because you wanted to, and not because you felt you had to, you are very lucky. And in no way am I suggesting that we should "take" anything away from Gunn students. I just would like to see an environment where these gifted, driven kids apply their energy to achievements that bring their life meaning and joy, rather than relief.

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David Gleit
2/4/2015 04:06:04 pm

I am disappointed that all the success stories you cited seemed to stress the wealth these people created - all 3 mentioned the word "million" to back up this notion of success. Is that the real measure of success that we want to reinforce to parents? Seems to me you could have cited a kid who became the best second grade teacher ever as a success story too, even if they never became a millionaire...

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Eva Glasrud link
2/4/2015 04:28:56 pm

Fair enough. The point of including those three examples was showing that kids with seemingly "useless" interests like fashion or Harry Potter can become extremely successful by fostering those skills. No one should ever say, "I'm afraid to tell my parents too much about my extracurriculars," because you never know what hobbies or interests can become valuable -- either by providing the child with money, happiness, or a good learning experience. But I also thought examples of internet millionaires might be the kinds of examples parents who pressure their kids would appreciate.

I provided some examples of kids who made a decent living (or even just some supplemental income) in my most recent post: http://www.thehappytalent.com/blog/achievement-isnt-normal-its-log-normal-heres-that-that-means-for-your-childs-future

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Reader
3/19/2015 02:03:00 pm

I think this is still missing the point though, if you keep talking about what income these kids could make. Is that all life is about, how much money you'll earn, and whether it's a "decent" amount or not? Yes, it's good to encourage kids to pursue things that interest them, but not because they can make a buck from them. (Sometimes that's what can ruin your interest in them, turning them into a way of making money.)

Eva Glasrud link
5/1/2015 05:49:07 am

The point isn't about how much money they'll make. The point is that a lot of parents and students alike worry about how they're going to make a living as an adult. Parents pressure their kids into spending time on activities that will "guarantee" a good income -- which is why more than half of America's top grads will do the same six things after graduation (law school, med school, grad school, finance, consulting and teach for america), even though people in these fields often feel discontent and passionless.

The "point" I'm trying to make is that ANYTHING can turn into income, passive income, supplemental income, a multimillion dollar startup... or just a cheap, fun alternative to therapy.

Kevin Bates
4/27/2017 04:37:13 am

" Is that all life is about, how much money you'll earn, and whether it's a "decent" amount or not?"

YES

Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos Warren Buffett, et al are BIGGER & much more important than GOD

Kevin Bates
4/27/2017 04:35:19 am

let's get real..money is not everything, it's the ONLY thing, especially in USA culture

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Emily
8/10/2015 01:50:06 am

Unfortunately teen cluster suicide is an incredibly complex issue. It's is not so simple as saying don't worry you can still succeed even if you didn't get into Harvard. No one takes their life because of such a silly reason, even here, in SV.

What you don't understand is the reason why Gunn students are so stressed is not because they won't get into Harvard. The reality is you can work your tail off at Gunn, and not even get into a UC, because each school is only going to accept so many kids from Gunn. When I went to school I worked hard and I was rank #1/530 kids when I applyed to college. Were I at Gunn today, I probably would be less than 50th percentile. But all of this is one factor in the complex issue of suicide. The reality is that teens across the entire country contemplate suicide frequently. However, for most, they do not follow through. Once a well liked teen at your school commits suicide, it's like opening a floodgate. Those students struggling with serious mental health issues now see death as a viable path to ending their pain. In one impulsive decision they make a decision that cannot be taken back. And then the depression snowballs in the entire student body and community.

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Eva Glasrud link
8/10/2015 02:44:54 am

Yes, the issue is incredibly complex. And though I try to provide examples, here, of people succeeding by following different paths than the AP-GPA-SAT, the focus of the article is that we, at the earliest age possible, need to embrace failure as both an unavoidable part of life... and an important learning opportunity.

There's no doubt that mental illness is, in a way, "contagious." We learn how to express our pain from seeing how others in our culture do the same.

And there are countless other factors, too. This blog post focuses on the toxicity (and narrowness) of our "culture of achievement," and the importance of resilience, coping skills and failure. If you have thoughts to add -- please reach out! Maybe you could do a guest post.

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Robert Morrison
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READ MY REVIEW HOW I WIN $158m CONTACT DR KACHI NOW FOR YOUR OWN LOTTERY WINNING NUMBERS.


I was a gas station truck driver and I always playing the SUPER LOTTO GAME, I’m here to express my gratitude for the wonderful thing that Dr Kachi did for me, Have anybody hear of the professional great spell caster who help people to win Lottery and clear all your debt and buy yourself a home and also have a comfortable life living. Dr Kachi Lottery spell casting is wonders and works very fast. He helped me with lucky numbers to win a big money that changed my life and my family. Recently i won, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EIGHT MILLIONS DOLLARS, A Super Lotto ticket I bought in Oxnard Liquor Store, I am so grateful to meet Dr Kachi on internet for helping me to win the lottery and if you also need his help, email him at: [email protected] and he will also help you as well to win and make you happy like me today. Text number OR Call: +1 (209) 893-8075 visit his Website, https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site

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3/12/2025 09:20:51 am

I saw testimonies online on how Dr Uwaifo helped a lot of people in winning Powerball. A huge amount, so I decided to contact him for winning lottery numbers, Dr Uwaifo did the spell and he gave me the winning lottery numbers. But believe me when the draws were out I was among the winners. I won $730 Millions Dollars Powerball. I have confirmed Dr Uwaifo is a real and guaranteed powerful spell caster. Now I am a living testimony of his good work, a gifted man with great powers, it is my secret but I decided to make the world know about his work. It might be a help to others who are interested. My comment might look funny to you but it is the truth, believe it and give Dr Uwaifo a try, and I promise you that it will not be funny when you win and share a testimony too. It’s not everybody that is naturally lucky, if you have problems with winning the lottery, the solution to win is Dr Uwaifo So contact him Website; https://druwaifospelltempl.wixsite.com/my-site-1 or Via email:[email protected] or a text: +1(315) 277-2762.

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3/13/2025 07:43:43 am

My name is Michael Eric, I want to thank Dr Ughulu for making me the happiest man on this earth. I have been playing a lottery jackpot for over 2 years all I have won is 5000 thousand dollars ever since I still keep playing it and I haven't win again I was wondering what was happening, until the day I was looking for how to win online I saw a comment how someone testifies Dr. Ughulu it was very interesting and I also sent him message to help me, and I explained everything to him, so he did everything for me and gave me six Powerball winning numbers. I played it and I won, when the winning numbers came out I was among the people and my winning price was $196 Million Dollars,what else can I say? Thank you so much Dr. Ughulu. I really appreciate what you did for me. Contact his website: https://drughulupowerfulsp.wixsite.com/my-site-ughulu or Text/Call:+1 (252) 409-1841 or via email: [email protected] WHATSAPP NUMBER: +1(720) 794-2516

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Dee link
3/14/2025 04:42:40 pm

This blog post offers a deeply thoughtful and timely reflection on the pressures of achievement, particularly in academic environments, and the devastating consequences they can have on mental health. The author’s compassionate approach to discussing the tragic suicide at Gunn High School sheds light on the often unspoken dangers of overemphasis on success and performance. The piece encourages a critical conversation about how we can better support our children by fostering resilience, emotional well-being, and a balanced approach to achievement. It’s a poignant reminder that helping children build strong mental and emotional foundations is just as important as their academic or extracurricular successes. This article provides both insight and hope, urging us to rethink how we define success and how we can better equip the next generation to thrive without the burden of toxic expectations.

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Gillian Bayford
4/12/2025 09:51:29 am

I want to use this medium to share my incredible manifesting with Dr. Kachi, who truly changed my life. For a long time, I struggled with homelessness after losing my job as a nurse. Life felt like an endless battle, and I spent many years trying to win the lottery, hoping for a better future. But despite my efforts, I had no success and was growing increasingly frustrated. That was until I came across an amazing testimony from a woman named Natasha, who shared how Dr. Kachi helped her win the National EuroMillions jackpot. I had always loved playing EuroMillions, but winning seemed impossible for me. However, after seeing Natasha's story, I decided to reach out to Dr. Kachi prepared a special spell to help me with guaranteed lucky numbers. Within 24 hours, he provided me with the winning numbers and instructed me to play. To my amazement, I won £184.656 million in the EuroMillions! Thanks to Dr. Kachi, my life has been transformed, and my financial situation has changed for the better. I will never forget this joyful moment, as it has been the best thing to ever happen to me. If you’re struggling and seeking a way out, never give up. Dr. Kachi can help you, just as he helped me. Keep your faith and take a chance – your life could change too! contact website https://drkachispellcaster.wixsite.com/my-site his email [email protected] or his phone text or call number: +1 (209) 893-8075

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10/30/2025 05:25:48 am

Earlier this year, I had a terrible fight with my husband, and he had no choice but to leave the house. And I assumed he was just angry, which made him leave. After a few days, I was unable to contact him or determine his whereabouts. I waited and waited, but he never returned or called me. I was filled with pain and remorse over what happened. I tried everything I could to get him back, but to no avail, until I contacted Dr. Isa, who came to my rescue. He performed his love spell work perfectly to reunite us, and my husband, who had not wanted to return, called exactly 48 hours later, just as Dr. Isa had promised. We are both now together.. Reach out to him on WhatsApp: +2347046030096 or email: [email protected] Website: https://drisaspellcaster.wixsite.com/dr-isa

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11/12/2025 09:36:26 pm

Good Morning! My name is Justin Simporios from Canada. My daughter was unable to walk for several months after an accident that required her to have surgery. Because I haven't won the Lotto I've been playing for so long, I haven't been able to pay for the surgery. A friend online recommended Lord Meduza to me and he deserves a really, really big THANK YOU. This man chose to help me with a lottery spell and he gave me the precise numbers to play the Canada Lotto Max Lottery. After two weeks, I was proclaimed the winner of $80 MILLION DOLLARS. Now, my daughter will be able to walk once more after so much time as her surgery is now completely funded. My victory marks the biggest win for a single ticket in Lotto Max history in Canada. I still can't believe it, Indeed there's none like Lord Meduza. Although if you want your EX LOVER back, he can help you too so get in touch with him right now via
Email: [email protected]
Whats-App +1 (807) 907-2687
Website: lordmeduzatemple.com

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11/21/2025 06:05:44 pm

Google AI has caused me more problems than it has solved. I was connected to a cryptocurrency trader through Google AI and lost my hard-earned money to a scam. If it weren't for the assistance of Lord Meduza, whom my sister-in-law recommended to me, I wouldn’t have been able to win the $435 MILLION Mega Millions Lottery. My life could have taken a drastic turn due to the overwhelming bills I faced after being cheated by the crypto traders. Lord Meduza utilized his extraordinary spell powers to determine the perfect six numbers I needed to win the Mega Millions Lottery, and I followed his instructions to play those numbers. I am incredibly thankful for the support, love, and kindness he has shown, which is beyond measure. For further details regarding his services, please visit his website: lordmeduzatemple.com or If you need an immediate response, you can email him via: [email protected] or Whats-App: +1 (807) 798-3042.

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My husband had the habit of always texting and fixing dates with his old friends including his exes. I never thought there was a problem with such until he became emotionally withdrawn from me and started acting abnormal towards me and my daughter. At this point I knew I needed help urgently because I never wanted to loose him. Dr Isikolo came to my rescue and the problem was fixed. One my husband’s ex vowed to ensure she takes him from him and started manipulating him to abandon me and my daughter which would have eventually happened if Dr Isikolo didn’t stepped in to help me. Just as he assured me of the the results after fixing the problem, everything became amazing between me and my husband and now he has apologized for everything and we are good again. Contact Dr Isikolo and believe he will surely fix that problem for you. His page: https://isikolo-temple.com or call/text on WhatsApp via +2348133261196

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Sharon Janis
1/12/2026 06:18:41 pm


I will forever be grateful to this professional spell caster who helped me change my husband heart to love and want me again. I'm Sharon Janis from California, USA. My husband and I have been married for about 6yrs now. We were happily married with two kids, 3 months ago, I started to notice some strange behavior from him and a few weeks later I found out that my husband is seeing someone else. I became very worried and I needed help. I did all I could to save my marriage but it fail until a friend of mine told me about the wonderful work of Dr. Excellent I contacted him and he assured me that after 11hrs everything will return back to normal, to my greatest surprise my husband came back home and went on his knees was crying begging me for forgiveness I’m so happy right now. Thank you so much Dr. Excellent because ever since then everything has returned back to normal. One message to him today can change your life too for the better. Here his contact. Call/WhatsApp him at: +2348084273514 "
Or email him at: [email protected]
For more details, visit https://drexcellentspellcaster.godaddysites.com

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1/27/2026 05:53:31 am

I have been suffering from Herpes for the past 1 years and 8 months, and ever since then I have been taking series of treatment but there was no improvement until I came across testimonies of Dr. Silver on how he has been curing different people from different diseases all over the world, then I contacted him as well. After our conversation he sent me the medicine which I took according to his instructions. When I was done taking the herbal medicine I went for a medical checkup and to my greatest surprise I was cured from Herpes. My heart is so filled with joy. If you are suffering from Herpes or any other disease you can contact Dr. Silver today on this Email address: [email protected]

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2/4/2026 04:12:28 am

I am sharing this testimony as a personal-belief story. In November 2022, I won the $2.04 billion Powerball lottery, an event that completely transformed my life. Before this happened, I sought spiritual guidance from Oniha Spells, who encouraged me to remain hopeful and focused. Afterward, I felt confident that something positive was coming. When I checked my ticket and saw that I had won, I was shocked and grateful. This experience taught me the importance of belief and never giving up.
Email: [email protected]
CALL/Whatsapp number: +16692213962
Website: http://onihaspells.com

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Thomas J.R. Marthinsen
2/5/2026 09:44:25 pm



JOIN THE ILLUMINATI BROTHERHOOD?!!! [email protected]

Are you a businessman, or woman,are you a pastor or an artist,, do you want to be famous or you want to be rich or powerful, it is better you become a member of Illuminati and make your dream come true . this is the chance for you now to become a member of the temple KINGDOM and get what you seek from us.if you are ready to become a member of Illuminati and realize your dream then-: whatsapp us or email= [email protected]

A NEW MEMBER WILL GIVEN THE SUM OF ( 5 MILLION DOLLARS,) A CAR AND A HOUSE IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD. NOTE: WE ARE NOT FORCING ANYBODY FOR THIS. IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED PLEASE DON'T APPLY

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Connor Gregory
2/6/2026 07:32:55 pm

I can confidently say that Oniha Spells are real and life-changing. Before meeting Dr. Oniha, I had never won anything significant from the lottery despite years of trying. After he performed a strong and focused lottery spell for me, everything aligned perfectly. I became the Mega Millions winner of $420,000,000, a moment I will never forget. Dr. Oniha treated me with respect, kindness, and spiritual wisdom from start to finish. His energy and guidance made all the difference. I recommend Oniha Spells to anyone ready for a financial breakthrough and a new beginning.
Email: [email protected]
CALL/Whatsapp number: +16692213962
Website: http://onihaspells.com

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Susan Jessica
2/8/2026 05:02:46 am

Winning the lottery was part of my dreams, I tried so hard to win big but all to no avail, until I came across Dr Uyi online who made my dreams come through and made me win $16.7 million Euro. I was a logistics manager who lives in Lancaster, S.C. and works about an hour's drive away, in Charlotte, N.C., I stopped at a store to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket during my lunch break, because Dr Uyi gave me all the assurance that the numbers are not going to fail after I did all he asked me to do. Dr Uyi is a powerful Dr that is on a mission to eradicate poverty from people's lives and i have confirmed that by winning $16.7 million Euro with the numbers he provided for me, it is my promise to tell the world about my experience with Dr Uyi and that's what I'm doing now, you can win the lottery fast with the help of Dr Uyi he is tested and trusted Email: [email protected] OR WhatsApp on +17174154115

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Ronald George
2/8/2026 10:33:47 am

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Heather Delaney
2/10/2026 12:12:45 am


I’m so happy right now, It is amazing how quickly Dr. Excellent brought my husband back to me. My name is Heather Delaney. I married the love of my life Riley on 10/02/15 and we now have two beautiful girls Abby & Erin, who are conjoined twins, that were born 07/24/16. My husband left me and moved to be with another woman. I felt my life was over and my kids thought they would never see their father again. I tried to be strong just for the kids but I could not control the pains that tormented my heart, my heart was filled with sorrows and pains because I was really in love with my husband. I have tried many options but he did not come back, until i met a friend that directed me to Dr. Excellent a spell caster, who helped me to bring back my husband after 11hours. Me and my husband are living happily together again, This man is powerful, contact Dr. Excellent if you are passing through any difficulty in life or having troubles in your marriage or relationship, he is capable of making things right for you. Don't miss out on the opportunity to work with the best spell caster. Here his contact. Call/WhatsApp him at: +2348084273514 "Or email him at: Excellentspellcaster@gmail. com

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2/10/2026 02:01:44 am

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Palermo Diaz
2/11/2026 05:49:44 pm

Wow what a good God I am so excited to tell you all how I become a millionaire I’m a woman of faith I was reading a comment on google where I meet a man sharing how Dr UYI cast a spell for him and he get his wife back after the spell I was interested I have to do research when I was doing the research I got so many testimony about this same man call Dr UYI how he help people to win lottery how he help people to get there ex back how he help people to do so many things I was happy and I contact him to help me win the lottery when I contact him and he told me what to do and after I did what he ask me to do he den gave me a lottery number to play and told me to go and buy ticket after playing the game I was so surprise the game come out good and I won the sum of 90, 000,000 dollars i was amazed and promise to share it to the people around me if anyone is willing to play the mage lottery it should contact Dr UYI so he can give you the right number to play thanks to you Dr UYI I’m so so grateful contact Dr UYI via [email protected] OR WhatsApp on +17174154115

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Zachary Lawrence
2/16/2026 01:33:49 am

I had to write back and say what an amazing experience I had with Dr Uyi for his powerful lottery spell. My Heart is filled with joy and happiness after he cast the Lottery spell for me, And i won $750,000,000 His spell changed my life into riches, I’m now out of debts and experiencing the most amazing good luck with the lottery after I won a huge amount of money. My life has really changed for good. I won (seventy five thousand dollars)Your Lottery spell is so real and pure. Thank you very much for the lottery spell that changed my life” I am totally grateful for the lottery spell you did for me Dr Uyi and i say i will continue to spread your name all over so people can see what kind of man you are. Anyone in need of help can email Dr Uyi for your own lottery number, because this is the only secret to winning the lottery. Email: [email protected] OR WhatsApp on +17174154115

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2/24/2026 07:07:59 pm

My name is Natasha Thompson from the USA/Texas.. Am so overwhelmed with gratitude to let the world know how Dr Kachi, the great spell caster changed my life for good. It all started when I lost my job and I was down financially and emotionally because I couldn’t be able provide for my two kids and staying home all day Jobless it’s not easy until I was checking on the internet when I saw a series of testimonies hearing people winning the Powerball lottery, I didn’t believed, but being poor no job you have no option. I gave it a try and I contacted Dr Kachi who told me what i have to do before I can become a big lottery winner and I accepted. He made special prayers for me in his temple and gave me the required numbers to play the lottery game and when I used the numbers to play it, I won a massive $344.6 million Powerball jackpot. I was so happy and I choose to review my winning in any platform, I would love other people to seek help from Dr Kachi through Text and Call: +1 (209) 675-7342 or email [email protected]

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Margaret Evelyn
2/26/2026 07:01:47 am

It is a very hard situation when playing the lottery and never won, or keep winning low fund not up to 100 bucks, i have been a victim of such a tough life, the biggest fund i have ever won was 100 bucks, and i have been playing lottery for almost 11 years now, things suddenly change the moment i came across a secret online, a testimony of a spell caster called Dr.Isa who help people win in any type of lottery numbers, i was not easily convinced, but i decided to give a try, now i am a proud to be a lottery winner with the help of Dr.Isa spell, i won 2,000,000 Million dollars and i am making this known to everyone out there who have been trying all day to win the lottery, believe me this is the only way to win the lottery, this is the real secret we all have been searching for.
His WhatsApp: +2347046030096
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://drisaspellcaster.wixsite.com/dr-isa

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RICHARD NUTTALL
3/4/2026 12:13:45 am

I was on holiday celebrating my 30th wedding anniversary when I received an email from the National Lottery to inform me that I had won, I never believed in voodoo spells until I became the winner of £61m EuroMillions Lottery with the winning numbers Chief Ade gave me with assurance that I was going to win, not every testimony you see online is fake, that was the same thing Chief Ade told me when I was doubting his spell before I finally agreed to give it a try. The purpose of my coming here is to let the world know that there are still real and genuine people on Earth, and Chief Ade is one of them. Are you struggling to win the lottery, or do you wish to win big on the lottery? Chief Ade is the way Email chiefadespellhome@gmail. com || WhatsApp +234 901 380 6328 THANK YOU ..

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Laura Benson
3/8/2026 10:43:51 am

Imagine becoming vastly wealthy overnight. Being a winner of a multi-million-dollar lottery is certainly a life-changing event for almost every single lottery winner. My name is Laura Benson from Chicopee, Massachusetts, the famous PowerBall lottery winner of $758 million (£591m) in 2017. I know many people would wonder how I had won the lottery. Would you believe me if I told you that I did it with spell casting? I met this famous spell caster known as Dr Isa, and he was the one who did it for me. As shocking as it was to me, I also want to encourage all those who need help to try their luck with Dr. Isa, who helped me win the lottery. I believe you’re still going to win with his help, too, just like he did for me. WhatsApp: +2347046030096 Email: [email protected] Website: https://drisaspellcaster.wixsite.com/dr-isa

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Brett Chalton
3/9/2026 12:14:07 pm

With my experience working with Dr Isikolo, i came to the conclusion there are very good and honest people out there who can truly do all they can to fix whatever problems you have even when they are not known to you visibly or see them in person. I lost my marriage for not being able to fully what it means to lead a woman right and accept the fact that they are wired in a way we men can never understand. I had to seek help from Dr Isikolo knowing my wife is a good woman whom i cant loose to anyone else. It was a tough situation for me though and too many things was revealed to me while he was helping me to fix the problems and i got the effect of the result just after 48 hours as he assured me and i have my wife back home to me. Dr Isikolo is the best option you can choose to restore love and connection between you and your partner and get back them back to your lives and be happy together forever. You can call/text him via WhatsApp +234-8133261196 or click on his webpage and see more details about his works. https://isikolo-temple.com

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Brenda Holman Holman
3/10/2026 07:08:07 am

My life changed forever when I won $2 million in the POWERBALL drawing. I want to share my incredible story with the world, and I must give credit to the amazing spell caster, Dr. Oniha. His lottery spell was the key to unlocking my winning fortune. I had been playing the lottery for years, but my numbers never seemed to match. That was until I met Dr. Oniha. His guidance and expertise gave me the confidence to take a chance on his spell. Dr. Oniha's spell was like a beacon of hope, shining brightly in my darkest moments. His words of encouragement and support kept me focused and motivated. When I won, I was in shock! I couldn't believe my eyes. Dr. Oniha's spell had worked its magic, and I am now a multimillionaire. I urge everyone to seek Dr. Oniha's help if they're struggling financially or need a change in their lives. His spells are real, and his expertise is unmatched.
Email: droniha16 @gmail.com
Call/Whatsapp +16692213962
Website on http://onihaspells.com

Reply



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