Comments on: The Myth of Being Well-Rounded http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/ Love, Laughter, and Madness Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:42:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-212854 Cottontimer Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:20:36 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-212854 For sure the types of people that excel in the various industries differ. Just depends on a person's aspirations. And the definition of well-rounded varies as well. I have a rather narrow view of it myself because I focus too much on the intellect. So when I say well-rounded, I'm usually thinking polymath rather than Nobel-prize winning sportsman! Will have to keep my eyes open for science award winners who are also star athletes. ;) For sure the types of people that excel in the various industries differ. Just depends on a person’s aspirations. And the definition of well-rounded varies as well. I have a rather narrow view of it myself because I focus too much on the intellect. So when I say well-rounded, I’m usually thinking polymath rather than Nobel-prize winning sportsman! Will have to keep my eyes open for science award winners who are also star athletes. ;)

]]> By: Lilian http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-211594 Lilian Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:10:17 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-211594 Heyo, no wonder my eyes were twitching : ) Didn't know you were here talking about me! I'm just kidding when I said I was trying to turn them into tough sportsmen, that's something I accept is highly unlikely to happen. But just to get them out there doing something more physical; who knows, they may find something they like enough to stick around and work on. It's not like I'm dragging them by their hair to these activities...they do enjoy the activities but they just don't ASK to do them. I guess it's how you define well-rounded; to me, it's not about being the best in everything you do; be good at what you love, but don't neglect other aspects of life...be open to new things, try. I know of individuals who excel academically, read widely, but are also good in sports or dance, and debate, I consider that well-rounded, so such people do exist. A friend who hired for Goldman Sachs says they prefer candidates who have been in team sports. Though according to Philip Guo, a Stanford grad student, "Ph.D. students aren't hired for their well-rounded personalities; they are hired because they have the ability and willingness to work long hours to churn out publishable research for their advisors while they are in graduate school." hehe. Heyo, no wonder my eyes were twitching : ) Didn’t know you were here talking about me!

I’m just kidding when I said I was trying to turn them into tough sportsmen, that’s something I accept is highly unlikely to happen.

But just to get them out there doing something more physical; who knows, they may find something they like enough to stick around and work on. It’s not like I’m dragging them by their hair to these activities…they do enjoy the activities but they just don’t ASK to do them.

I guess it’s how you define well-rounded; to me, it’s not about being the best in everything you do; be good at what you love, but don’t neglect other aspects of life…be open to new things, try. I know of individuals who excel academically, read widely, but are also good in sports or dance, and debate, I consider that well-rounded, so such people do exist.

A friend who hired for Goldman Sachs says they prefer candidates who have been in team sports. Though according to Philip Guo, a Stanford grad student, “Ph.D. students aren’t hired for their well-rounded personalities; they are hired because they have the ability and willingness to work long hours to churn out publishable research for their advisors while they are in graduate school.” hehe.

]]> By: Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-210659 Cottontimer Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:14:28 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-210659 Ah, yes. Success is hard to define. Must remember that we don't always have to be perfect at everything but the effort is still important. :) Ah, yes. Success is hard to define. Must remember that we don’t always have to be perfect at everything but the effort is still important. :)

]]> By: Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-210658 Cottontimer Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:13:18 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-210658 I can definitely see that Stephen doesn't jump off the sofa as much after school as compared to weekends! That's not a bad thing in my opinion.... ;) I can definitely see that Stephen doesn’t jump off the sofa as much after school as compared to weekends! That’s not a bad thing in my opinion…. ;)

]]> By: echomyst http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208285 echomyst Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:06:16 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208285 But see... you'd noted the most important aspect: being SORT OF good at everything. If you put it that way, I'm "well-rounded" because my interests are diverse, BUT I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT ANY OF THEM. :-( I think maybe there are different levels to this well-roundedness... being "sort of good at a whole bunch of things" and "being SUCCESSFUL at a whole bunch of things". The latter can only be achieved by the rare type of person! But see… you’d noted the most important aspect: being SORT OF good at everything.

If you put it that way, I’m “well-rounded” because my interests are diverse, BUT I’M NOT VERY GOOD AT ANY OF THEM. :-(

I think maybe there are different levels to this well-roundedness… being “sort of good at a whole bunch of things” and “being SUCCESSFUL at a whole bunch of things”. The latter can only be achieved by the rare type of person!

]]> By: KathyF http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208249 KathyF Sat, 15 Sep 2007 15:52:13 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208249 "A lot of it has to do with our inborn temperaments which are awfully hard to overcome." You must have been listening to that guy on the radio this morning too, talking about physical activity programs in school. He said exactly that; and that increasing exercise IN school leads to decreasing it AFTER school. Genetics. Yep. Although where my daughter got her love of athletics, I have no idea. “A lot of it has to do with our inborn temperaments which are awfully hard to overcome.”

You must have been listening to that guy on the radio this morning too, talking about physical activity programs in school. He said exactly that; and that increasing exercise IN school leads to decreasing it AFTER school.

Genetics. Yep.

Although where my daughter got her love of athletics, I have no idea.

]]> By: frumiousb http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208153 frumiousb Sat, 15 Sep 2007 12:21:24 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208153 cool, great link! thanks! cool, great link! thanks!

]]> By: Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208141 Cottontimer Sat, 15 Sep 2007 12:05:21 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208141 Speaking of jack of all trades, I read a great post yesterday listing <a href="http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/">top 5 reasons to be a jack of all trades</a>. Speaking of jack of all trades, I read a great post yesterday listing top 5 reasons to be a jack of all trades.

]]> By: Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208100 Cottontimer Sat, 15 Sep 2007 10:58:07 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208100 Hi there! My new philosophy about PE is that kids should be grouped according to ability. I got pretty tired of feeling like uncomfortable and self-conscious in front of the jocks. Although I do recall a few of them were pretty nice about showing us how to hit and pitching to us gently during softball. Blech. The horrid high school memories!! :P Anyway, my favorite outdoor activity is walking and hiking because that's about the limit of my coordination. heh I'm afraid I've given up on being well-rounded mostly because there just isn't enough time! Hi there! My new philosophy about PE is that kids should be grouped according to ability. I got pretty tired of feeling like uncomfortable and self-conscious in front of the jocks. Although I do recall a few of them were pretty nice about showing us how to hit and pitching to us gently during softball. Blech. The horrid high school memories!! :P Anyway, my favorite outdoor activity is walking and hiking because that’s about the limit of my coordination. heh

I’m afraid I’ve given up on being well-rounded mostly because there just isn’t enough time!

]]> By: frumiousb http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208086 frumiousb Sat, 15 Sep 2007 10:46:07 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2007/09/15/the-myth-of-being-well-rounded/#comment-208086 While I agree with you to some extent, I really do regret that I didn't come to enjoy outside activities more until I was an adult. Partly this was personal preference, but partly it was also living in an environment where the world was divided between the jocks (who were jerks, good at sports, and ruled the school) and everyone else. Since I definitely didn't want to be like them, I ruled out a lot of good activities. And, actually, I do try to be well-rounded as an adult. This may lead me to being (as I am) a jack of all trades and master of none. But this does make me the happiest. :) While I agree with you to some extent, I really do regret that I didn’t come to enjoy outside activities more until I was an adult. Partly this was personal preference, but partly it was also living in an environment where the world was divided between the jocks (who were jerks, good at sports, and ruled the school) and everyone else. Since I definitely didn’t want to be like them, I ruled out a lot of good activities.

And, actually, I do try to be well-rounded as an adult. This may lead me to being (as I am) a jack of all trades and master of none. But this does make me the happiest. :)

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