--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In middle school and high school, I had…" description: "\"In middle school and high school, I had straight A's, and I graduated at the top of my year. On the flip side of that, I struggled with very severe per..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/simone-giertz-9150_high_in-middle-school-and-high-school-i-had-s_608793.jpg" --- # In middle school and high school, I had straight A's, and… ![“In middle school and high school, I had straight A's, and I graduated at the top of my year. On the flip side of that, I struggled with very severe performance anxiety.” quote by Simone Giertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/simone-giertz-9150_high_in-middle-school-and-high-school-i-had-s_608793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/simone-giertz-9150_high_in-middle-school-and-high-school-i-had-s_608793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70a/simone-giertz-9150_high_in-middle-school-and-high-school-i-had-s_608793.jpg) > “In middle school and high school, I had straight A's, and I graduated at the top of my year. On the flip side of that, I struggled with very severe performance anxiety.” [Simone Giertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-giertz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. High academic achievement can coexist with intense performance anxiety, revealing that external success doesn’t guarantee inner confidence. **In simple terms:** Success and anxiety can exist together. Key Takeaway Develop coping strategies for anxiety despite achievements. Themes achievement anxiety perfectionism mental health self‑esteem Mood anxious thoughtful hopeful Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - school exams - career advancement - public speaking - creative projects Key Concepts cognitive dissonance stress response self‑criticism Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your anxiety in high‑pressure moments? - How can you separate self‑worth from external results? A Different Perspective Anxiety may be rooted in deeper issues beyond performance pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Middle school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-school/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Performance anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance-anxiety/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [A startling confession for a food writer: all through high school, I struggled with a severe eating disorder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/a-startling-confession-for-a-food-writer-all-through-high-school-i/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety at the height of her career; for 27 years she refused to perform for the general public, appearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming-performance-anxiety-at-the/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [“As a performing musician, Masha is especially concerned in helping those in the creative and sports arenas to reach their true potential. This could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mashasolodukha/as-a-performing-musician-masha-is-especially-concerned-in-helping/) [mashasolodukha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mashasolodukha/) > [The performance anxiety I had is still there. I've been given different kinds of tools and learned how to manage it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-crown-princess-of-sweden/the-performance-anxiety-i-had-is-still-there-i-ve-been-given/) [Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-crown-princess-of-sweden/) > [We used to moralize; today we normalize, and performance anxiety is the secular version of our old religious guilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/we-used-to-moralize-today-we-normalize-and-performance-anxiety-is-the/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [I am forever grateful that I got some training in the theater - it reduces performance anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-stiles/i-am-forever-grateful-that-i-got-some-training-in-the-theater-it/) [Julia Stiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-stiles/) > [“Well, Dr. Elpinoy will never admit it, but he suffers from performance anxiety-" "Oh, shut up, you old cad," Elpinoy said, finally uncrossing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-habel/well-dr-elpinoy-will-never-admit-it-but-he-suffers-from-performance/) [Lia Habel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-habel/) > [There's a big difference in doing a play or doing any project that not a lot of people see and then a project that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/there-s-a-big-difference-in-doing-a-play-or-doing-any-project-that/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [“Going on stage always felt like being shot out of a cannon. 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We only matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/somewhere-along-the-line-i-think-many-of-us-buy-into-a-lie-that-we/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“ PERFORMANCE ANXIETY If it is indeed human nature to seek social relationships, then why would someone choose not to socialize? As we discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/performance-anxiety-if-it-is-indeed-human-nature-to-seek-social/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [I am certainly suffering from a modicum of performance anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-am-certainly-suffering-from-a-modicum-of-performance-anxiety/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [“It was only once I was in the car ... that the only two reasons I hadn't joined right in with the loon with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/it-was-only-once-i-was-in-the-car-that-the-only-two-reasons-i-hadn-t/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [The excitement does not change. After 40 years in the business, I still find the show to be a magical moment - the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-armani/the-excitement-does-not-change-after-40-years-in-the-business-i-still/) [Giorgio Armani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-armani/) ## More by Simone Giertz > [I don't want to be brain tumor girl. I don't want this to be my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-giertz/i-don-t-want-to-be-brain-tumor-girl-i-don-t-want-this-to-be-my-thing/) [Simone Giertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-giertz/) > [Burn out is such a real thing, especially when you are enjoying your job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-giertz/burn-out-is-such-a-real-thing-especially-when-you-are-enjoying-your/) [Simone Giertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-giertz/) > [In some ways, it's good for company culture to build things that are intended to fail because it creates an environment where it's OK…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-giertz/in-some-ways-it-s-good-for-company-culture-to-build-things-that-are/) [Simone Giertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-giertz/) > [Adding comedy into what I do is just my natural approach. 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