[Avodah] self esteem

[Eli Turkel]

<<Just noticed this haskoma that Rav Reuven Feinstein gave to
  "Bringing Out the Best" by Rabbi Roll. The book describes how to
  build self-esteem based on the wisdom of the Alter of Slobadka. What
  is interesting is Rabbi Feinstein stating, "In yeshivos today there
  is literally a pandemic of low self-esteem. An outcome of this most
  horrible condition, is that once a person has achieved a state where
  self-worth and self-value are diminished, that person is literally open
  to all foreign pressures, both within and without our community. Once
  those pressures are given free reign, the outcome is without exception,
  negative.">>

I wonder if "artscroll" type gedolim stories contribute to this phenomena
but setting up standards for perfect gedolim that very few can obtain.
Once in high school most students realize they are not up to the standards
in these books.
Perhaps a better model would be the Netziv who was not a child prodigy
but became a gadol relatively later in life by emphasizing hasmada.
I also note that when the argument arose over the leadership of Voloshin the
ultimate decision was to stress Sinai over a sharp mind in line with
the gemara about choosing a rosh yeshiva.

-- 
Eli Turkel