The burden of the 'gifted kid' label | Aleksandra Żołędziewska | TEDxIILOPoznań — Monday 18 May 2026In an era where academic excellence is often celebrated as an innate gift, many young people around the world quietly struggle under the weight of that very label. Polish IB student Aleksandra Żołędziewska explores this tension in her TEDx talk from Poznań, recounting how being called gifted shaped her early years and later led to profound burnout. She challenges the widespread belief that high achievers simply coast through challenges, revealing instead the hidden costs of constant pressure to perform. Żołędziewska describes a personal path marked by intense fear of failure and perfectionism that gradually eroded her motivation. What began as early praise for her abilities turned into a fixed mindset where mistakes felt unacceptable, leaving her exhausted and disconnected from learning. Her story resonates far beyond Poland, echoing experiences in competitive education systems from Singapore to the United States, where students in international programs face similar expectations from families, schools, and societies that prize top results above well-being. By contrasting a fixed mindset with a growth approach, the speaker offers practical ways to rebuild drive and ease the burden of labels. She encourages embracing challenges as part of growth rather than threats to identity, a perspective that could help educators and parents worldwide foster healthier environments for talented youth. Her insights remind global audiences that true potential flourishes not through relentless pressure, but through support that values resilience over perfection.Watch the full video from TED Talks below.