Cover art by Isabella Marsh
Point-Counterpoint: Striving for perfection
By Margaret Schwartz and Sienna Watt
Point 1: There is no such thing as perfect. No author is ever truly finished, no house built faultlessly, no absolute best-looking person in the world. Perfect doesn't exist– and that's ok. Once you embrace that, come to terms with the fact that there is always better, that is when you can truly live your life. Striving for perfection implies that there is a standard set that you should be striving for. Yet, it also implies that this standard is more or less universal. This mindset takes away from the individual. Everyone lives a different life. We are not all meant to cross the same bridges; each person's journey is unique. By striving for perfection, you are straying away from your own self-journey and into a journey already carved out for you by someone else. Additionally, this set standard can never be defined. There is no criterion that makes something perfect. By striving for perfection, you are reaching for air. If perfection cannot be defined, it cannot be achieved. Furthermore, striving for perfection as the end goal automatically sets you up for disappointment. If this idyllic thing is what you want, then anything less will be underwhelming. If the ‘perfect’ doctor cures cancer, then the average doctor will never feel satisfied with their work, when in reality, they are both saving lives daily. Being so fixated on a single point narrows your vision and hinders your ability to appreciate the things you do accomplish. According to Emily Sohn at the American Physiology Association, “when people feel like they can’t ever live up to expectations, the pursuit of perfection can become detrimental to mental health, leading to disconnection from an internal sense of self-worth.” Shooting for perfection automatically defines a mistake as something negative. Meanwhile, mistakes are essential for growth. People need to be able to make mistakes, learn from them, and be better for it. If a mistake is made, you feel you have failed, it is harder to then reflect and have a beneficial experience. Life is full of bumps in the road, and human growth is reflected in our ability to manage them, not avoid them. This constant pursuit is a cycle, one that is incredibly hard to break. When you shoot for perfection and, inevitably, miss, it just makes you want it even more. The mind wants what it can't have. This leads to immense hits to one's self worth and the development of insecurities. In ‘Why Perfectionism Can Be a Mental Health Risk’, by the Addictions Training Institute, the similarities between perfectionism and addiction are explored. “Many who strive to achieve their own idealized version of perfection effectively run themselves into the ground, unable to maintain the exhausting standard. Perfectionism is associated with depression and a number of other disorders (anxiety-related, eating-related, OCD, etc.) due to constant rumination, feelings of shame and guilt, and never feeling up to par,” (ATI). While some may argue that striving for perfection encourages people to work harder and succeed, it is important not to confuse perfectionism with ambition. To want to accomplish great things is one thing; to compare yourself with unrealistic expectations is another. Life should be an exploration of self, of finding out who you are, what you like, your skills. Push yourself to be the best version of yourself possible; don't push yourself to be someone you are not.
Point 2: The desire to strive for perfection is the most valuable mindset a person can have. While perfection may never be fully attainable, its pursuit encourages individuals to work harder, think more carefully, and push their limits. When people aim for perfection, they naturally produce higher quality work and build discipline and habits that lead to success. For these reasons, striving for perfection is one of the best philosophies a person can have. Pursuing perfection motivates people to put in their best effort. When someone sets extremely high standards for themselves, they are less likely to settle for mediocrity. Instead of just doing enough to get by, they review their work, make improvements and constantly look for ways to do better. This mindset inevitably leads to higher achievement because they are always pushing themselves to improve. Even if perfection is never fully reached, the final result is usually far better than it would have been if the person aimed lower. Striving for perfection also encourages discipline and strong work habits. People who adopt this mentality often develop patience, attention to detail and persistence. These qualities are essential in nearly every area of life, from academics to careers to personal goals. A student who strives for an A is more likely to study carefully and review until they truly understand the material, which are both purely beneficial habits. Over time, these habits strengthen their ability to learn and problem solve in the future. The goal of perfection can also lead to innovation and progress. Many important achievements throughout history have come from individuals who refused to accept “good enough”. When people challenge themselves to reach the highest possible standard, they often discover new ideas, better techniques, or more efficient solutions. This mindset pushes individuals and societies forward. If everyone simply accepted average results, there would be no breakthroughs in medicine, no advancements in technology and no ability to see beyond what is standard. It could be argued that striving for perfection can create unnecessary pressure and disappointment when perfection is not achieved. While this concern is understandable, it misunderstands the true idea of striving for perfection. The goal is not punishment for small mistakes and human error, but to use the idea of perfection as a direction to aim towards. Instead of viewing failure as proof of inadequacy, people can see it as part of the improvement process. Although perfection itself may remain out of reach, the pursuit of it pushes people to achieve far more than they otherwise would. By aiming for the highest possible standards and refusing to settle for mediocrity, individuals can grow and become innovative. Without the ambition to reach for the best possible output, an individual may never reach their full potential.
An Eating Disorder: What and Why?
Does being a perfectionist make you more susceptible to substance abuse?
By Georgia Thomas
While perfectionism may be viewed as beneficial, too much can become unhealthy. In fact, according to Zelus Recovery, studies show that people who demonstrate higher tendencies of perfectionism are more likely to develop addictions including internet use, gambling, drug use and alcohol use. This phenomenon often occurs because perfectionists set goals that are almost impossible to reach. Because perfectionists have such a strong desire to excel, they feel more let down when they don’t achieve their goals. As a result, perfectionists are more likely to turn to drugs or alcohol in hopes of getting ahead of their peers or gaining an edge. Perfectionists often appear to be excelling as they are always overachieving. However, many perfectionists are carrying pressure and emotional burdens. As a result, specific addictions can be correlated with specific tendencies related to being a perfectionist. For example, alcohol could be used after a long exhausting day of trying to meet the standards they set for themselves. Prescription stimulants also may be used by perfectionists in order to sustain long work or study hours to maintain focus. Sedatives or sleep aids may be used to help perfectionists sleep at night despite anxiety regarding their next day's to-do list. One area where this is especially relevant is in sports. According to an article by Kung Wang et al, unhealthy perfectionism in sports can be associated with increased fear of mistakes, increased self-criticism and an overall fear of not being good enough. Because of this, these athletes are more likely to turn to doping in hopes of achieving their goals. On the contrary, this article explains that healthy perfectionism can actually be associated with the opposite effect. Because these athletes have high personal standards, a strong urge to do well (in a healthy way), and strive for higher performance, they may be less likely to engage in doping.
Illustration by Paloma Nacamuli
The hidden addiction of checking grades online
Born with addiction
OCD’s obsession with perfectionism
By Beatrice Nass
Roughly one in 40 adults each year has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), according to the National Institute of Mental Health. OCD symptoms can start at any time in one’s life and can include a range of impulses. Wellness Coordinator Spencer DeWoody defines OCD and the different sides of it. “OCD is characterized by two main things that come up for people, and that’s obsession, which is intrusive thoughts or urges that they have to do something, and that’s followed by usually a compulsion, which is the behavioral aspect of it,” DeWoody said. The behavior of OCD can show up all in different ways. “The behavior might be different, whether that be the checking and the piece of the obsession or the thought. The really intrusive thought can range in what that might be. [For example,] if I'm constantly thinking that my mom’s gonna die and I have to call her three times in a day, and that specific number happens to be what I need to do, then that might have some sort of impact [on my learning,]” DeWoody said. People struggling with OCD may have a hard time in class because of the distracting thoughts and urges their OCD can bring on. Sometimes the impulses OCD triggers aren't seemingly related to specific thoughts at all. An example DeWoody gave is that one might have the urge to hurt someone else, and their way of easing that “itch” is to open and close their bedroom door six times. The similarities between addiction and OCD share the same cycle and effects that addiction has on people. The craving or the intrusive thought and the wanting to relieve themselves of that itch. OCD is different from substance addictions, however, as DeWoody explained. “If [a substance] addict is trying to get off something that they’ve used for a long time, their body has physiological symptoms of withdrawal, and oftentimes it’s actually unsafe to do that on your own [because] people could die [from] it. In OCD, the behavior that you might feel like you have to do might cause anxiety, but it’s not going to cause a physiological symptom of you dying,” DeWoody said. OCD has no cure, no way to go “cold turkey.” There are, however, treatments for OCD that attempt to subdue its symptoms. Both medications and psychotherapy are both procedures used as treatment options. According to the Mayo Clinic, exposure and response prevention (ERP) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are common ways to practice relieving oneself from the thresholds of OCD. OCD can show up in many different ways. Are those books lined up? What if I miss? If I mess up on this, will everyone die? A study by the National Library of Medicine found that an obsession with contamination and cleaning was higher in females than males, yet compulsivity around sexual and religious notions was vice versa, higher in males than females. OCD doesn’t look the same for everyone, but the cycle of addiction is a pattern that can be seen throughout. The cycle of addiction in OCD isn’t necessarily something that has a similar trigger to other addictions, such as alcoholism, where one has to start drinking alcohol in order for addiction to start. OCD can be something people, while not born with, can be predisposed to. According to an NOCD article, “You aren’t born with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but research shows that genetics and brain differences can make some people more likely to develop the condition.” The article also says that, “However, having a genetic predisposition doesn’t guarantee that you will develop OCD—it usually requires environmental or life events, such as stress or trauma, to trigger symptoms.” Roughly one in 40 adults have or will develop OCD, according to the International OCD Foundation. The recurring obsessive thoughts that OCD produces can be compared to those of an addiction, however the comparison isn’t perfect.
To learn more about OCD, listen to this podcast.
Perfectionism in social media
By Leyton Defesche
Rising expectations are fueling student AI use
By Elsa Houtkooper
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in schools is often framed as students being lazy and taking shortcuts. While that may be true in some cases, for many students, AI is becoming less about saving time and more about keeping up with rising expectations and pressure to produce perfect work. AI use has boomed in schools. A 2025 global survey by the Digital Education Council found that 92 percent of students use AI tools for schoolwork, a large increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, a 2024 study from the Pew Research Center found that 59 percent of U.S. teens believe using AI to complete assignments is common at their school. These numbers may seem like evidence of widespread laziness, but AI use is becoming normalized as the pressure to succeed increases. According to the American College Health Association, more than 60 percent of college students report feeling overwhelming academic stress, and nearly three-quarters say grades are a primary source of anxiety. Among younger students, the American Psychological Association has found that 31 percent of teens identify school as their biggest source of stress, with many reporting that expectations feel unmanageable. Workload adds to the strain, as a Stanford Graduate School of Education study found that students in high-achieving schools average more than three hours of homework per night, with most reporting significant stress and sleep deprivation. This isn’t just stress. It’s a culture of high expectations. The National Association of Secondary School Principals reports that many students feel intense pressure from both teachers and parents to maintain near-perfect grades, while competitive college admissions add additional pressure. In this environment, doing well is no longer enough. Students feel they must be exceptional at all times. That is where perfectionism starts to take over. When expectations feel high and the workload keeps building, bad grades can start to feel like a big deal. Students become less focused on actually understanding the material and more focused on not falling behind. Once that happens, school stops being about learning and becomes more about avoiding failure. That is exactly why AI has become so hard to resist. It not only makes work faster, but it also makes it “better.” It can clean up writing, give ideas and make everything sound more put-together. For students dealing with constant pressure to meet high expectations, AI doesn’t feel like a shortcut; it feels like a way to guarantee high-quality work. Because of that, it becomes harder to go without it. The more students rely on AI to meet expectations, the more they start to depend on it. This is not just an addiction to a tool, but an addiction to being perfect. And as long as students feel like perfection is the standard, they will keep relying on tools that help them reach it.
The price of academic perfectionism
By Olivia Hamm
Have you ever spent more time worrying about getting an A than actually understanding what you’re learning? In a study done in 2022 by the Ox Journal, it was revealed that 85.4 percent of students aged 16-25 reported having perfectionist traits in school, with many experiencing stress that negatively impacted their mental and physical health. If being academically perfect is the ultimate goal that many of us strive for each day, how can we ignore this addiction and continue on the same route we are now? Addiction to academic perfection is not normal; as we progress with new technology and resources to try and achieve this unrealistic goal, we risk endangering our mental health, creating worse habits and even learning less information to try and keep up. Perfectionism is making school less about the learning process and more about the final grade. This is not a topic to be taken lightly or one to be normalized. Academic perfection is an ideology that is dangled in front of us throughout our whole education so that we might end up successful or have ideal lives, but this addiction to being perfect doesn’t translate into success. In fact, research highlighted in Psychology Today shows that success is driven more by practical life skills, like managing emotions, solving problems and navigating everyday challenges, than by pure intelligence or academic perfection. The constant obsession to be perfect at school can also wreck your mental health by increasing anxiety, burnout and feelings of never being good enough. Students who constantly chase perfect grades often experience chronic stress, sleep deprivation and even symptoms of depression as they tie their self-worth entirely to academic performance. Not only is this constant addiction to being perfect making ourselves suffer, but it is also breaking our education system as we know it. To put this into simpler words, when someone is addicted to drugs, they do whatever they can to get their hands on them. The same thing happens with academic perfection, but instead of looking for drugs, we look for ways to create shortcuts in our learning. The most common form of this is the usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs to help with schoolwork, classwork and in extreme cases, tests. With a rise in the craving for academic excellence, many students now heavily rely on AI to stay caught up in school. Our current education system insists that cheating is wrong and easily avoidable through preparation, but as addiction to perfection increases, so do cases of cheating on assignments and tests. According to a recent article by Inside Higher Ed, an educational analysis news program, cheating cases will continue to rise as the craving for perfect grades also rises. Studies by Arizona State University professor Sara Brownell were conducted on 21 in-person classes offered at the university, and it was found that over 45 percent of classwork required could be easily completed by AI. This creates an unhealthy education system where everyone is fighting to be perfect and therefore taking a shortcut to do so, which doesn’t offer a true reflection of each student. “We’re using students’ grades as a reflection of their learning and effort in class, and AI, other technology and increased academic dishonesty [are] undermining that.” Brownell said. As students try to climb to the top, cheating becomes more and more appealing to help create academic shortcuts. Addiction to academic perfection can impact you without even realizing it, and make using AI or other cheating resources sound like a good idea. As a community, we can’t ignore the detrimental effects of constantly striving for academic perfection. This mindset is often normalized in the present day, and by taking steps to reverse that, we can create a healthier education system and environment for students. School will once again be about learning over memorization, our minds will be healthy and cheating rates will decrease. When we reflect on all of these effects that come from one dependency that is often overlooked as a dependency at all, it’s clear that the only option is to take action by redefining success, prioritizing learning over perfection and creating a culture where effort and growth matter more than flawless results.