The feeling of needing to rise to meet expectations is still a foreign one to me, and then having to stand on a chair and use my fist (and perhaps a mop handle) to smash above expectations anyway.

I can count the times I've been really pushed on one hand. Number theory my senior year of high school. A few classes and projects at Olin. Running the community test group at OLPC.

AND THEN THIS ENTIRE FREAKIN' SUMMER.

I'm not used to being asked to step into larger shoes than I'd already planned myself - not used to having to run faster than I'd already planned on pushing in order to keep up with people far smarter and faster than I am - not used to having roles to grow into instead of things to prove I've grown out of.

I like it. I really, really like it. It's wonderful to be able to struggle to grow into something I'm expected to become. Hungry for more.