H-AG Magazine

hag1 (hag), adj. 1. “High-Achieving Guy/Gal”, real or imagined (for e.g., a character in a film, television show, book etc.). 2. A magazine that redefines the conventional meaning of the word, hag. (see hag2) hag2 (hag), n. 1. An ugly old woman, esp. a vicious or malicious one. 2. Battle Ax.

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For an essay by Angelique Kidjo.

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ghost

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Outliers

Obviously the book, Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, should have been on my reading list for this project, but it was not. Anyway, will pick it up soon.

Here is a review by time magazine: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1858880,00.html

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Another young achiever from the Art Director Club Young Gun school - designer Mario Hugo.

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Super H-AG Michael Freimuth shares his secret sauce for success. 

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The Art of Imperfection

 Why do we perceive being a perfectionist as being integral to being a high achiever?

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OverAchiever Syndrome?

This article raises some important issues about self worth and achievement.

“It is healthy to strive for excellence,” Pascucci notes. “It is healthy to work hard and be proud of your com- mitment to reach your goals. But health and balance are also choices. It is not healthy to choose to sacrifice your health and well-being to achieve success. What does success mean? Does being happy and healthy make you successful?” “It is not healthy to tie your self-worth to your aca- demic achievements or failures,” Pascucci cautions. “It is not healthy to hold your résumé as your sole measure of self-worth. If you were asked to define who you are with or without your successes or failures, what would you say?”

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Hillary Clinton shares Tracy Flick's worth ethic.

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Kirsten Gillibrand's nickname is 'Tracy Flick.'

This great article compares Kirsten Gillibrand to Tracy Flick.

Some key excerpts:

In her January 25 New York Times column, Dowd wrote, "So now we have an N.R.A. handmaiden in Bobby Kennedy's old seat? Kirsten Gillibrand, a k a Tracy Flick, accepting the honor with her Republican pal Al D'Amato beside her on stage? Gross." Dowd added: "The 42-year-old Gillibrand, who has been in the House for only two years, is known as opportunistic and sharp-elbowed. Tracy Flick is her nickname among colleagues in the New York delegation, many of whom were M.I.A. at her Albany announcement."

A January 23 Politico article headlined, "Gillibrand unpopular among peers," reported that "[w]ithin the high school gossip circle that is New York's congressional delegation, Kirsten Gillibrand's nickname is 'Tracy Flick.' "

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How does thoroughly unlikeable Tracy Flick get things done?

How important is it to be likeable to get ahead in life? Tracy proves there are workarounds to this.

I always suspected that Tracy would offer subtle bribes to her classmates so that they would vote for her. If she knew that she was likeable, she would likely not do it.

But since she didn't want to take any chances about winning the election, she just covered her bases.

First, when she needs students to sign a petition for her, she offers gum. (But she makes sure no one takes more than she has allotted)

Then, on the morning of the election, she and her Mom customize 400 plus cupcakes with her campaign logo, Pick Flick.

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Apples and Oranges

Matthew Broderick's character high school civics teacher Jim McAllister may the Protagonist of the 1999 comedy Election, but the most memorable character in the story is Tracy Flick:

In a terrific performance by Reese Witherspoon, Flick is an interesting Nemesis, a young woman who would have been perfectly satisfied to leave McAllister alone -- that is until he got in her way. A plot summary from IMDB: Tracy Flick is running unopposed for this year's high school student election. But school civics teacher Jim McAllister has a different plan. Partly to establish a more democratic election, and partly to satisfy some deep personal anger toward Tracy, Jim talks popular varsity football player Paul Metzler to run for president as well. Chaos ensues. Chaos is right as Tracy is a force of nature when it comes to achieving her goals. Check out this side of dialogue:

You might think it upset me that Paul Metzler had decided to run against me but nothing could be further from the truth. He was no competition for me; it was like apples and oranges. I had to work a little harder, that's all, see I believe in the voters; they understand that elections aren't just popularity contests, they know this country was built by people just like me who work very hard and don't have everything handed to them on a silver spoon. Not like some rich kids who everybody likes because their fathers owns Metzlers cement and give them trucks on their 16th birthday and throw them big parties all the time. No, they don't ever have to work for anything. They think they can just all of a sudden one day out of the blue waltz right in with no qualifications what's so ever and try to take away what other people have worked very, very hard for their entire lives. No, it didn't bother me at all. 

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TRACY FLICK & HARD WORK

Tracy Flick believes that this country (America)  " was built by people just like me who work very hard and don't have everything handed to them on a silver spoon,"

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Why do some people think that Tracy Flick is an overachiever?

Skip to 00:25 to see a little snapshot of the overachieving Tracy Flick. Its important to note that Tracy volunteers for every committee as long as she can lead it! She is no shrinking violet.

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Ideas for Tracy Flick issue

Tracy Flick is a super ambitious teenager, the protagonist of Tom Perrotta's novel, Election, a really dark satire and a wonderful film by Alexander Payne.

She is extremely opinionated and very well planned. I think this issue should be about 10-11 things that we can all learn from Tracy.

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Role models for American immigrants

This article by Najin Lee for Yisei magazine addresses role models for Asian Americans. I guess I never really thought about a personal role model as an Indian living in America. Maybe this was because I did not grow up here and also, my parents are not American. Role models are often set by parents ( I think!)

Our Lack of Role Models 

Najin Lee says -

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For American immigrant groups in particular, a role model must fulfill all the expectations of specific ethnic values as well as those of American values. They must realize the American dream, for in doing so they achieve all that their immigrant communities hoped for themselves in coming to America. However, role models must extend beyond their limitations as individuals and become unifying principles for a people, symbols of the inherent potential in each and every member of the community they represent."

However, as a graphic design student, if I had to choose a role model from my community, it would be Mira Nair, who is an exemplary artist and film maker.