Hi winterglen, I've found that some people pick on you about how good you are no matter what you do. Those people who take notice when you struggle are the same people who are jealous of others who are doing very well. I don't think there's anything you can do to make them happy with you, and it's best to put what they say out of mind. I always think they have self-esteem issues themselves with not being good enough. Remember, simply being the best or a high achiever isn't what makes you happy, but whether you genuinely enjoy what you are doing. Trying to live up to their expectations may be causing you to be a perfectionist and holding yourself back. I sometimes worry so much about how good something needs to be that I don't even start on it in fear it won't be perfect, and that people will judge me to be imperfect. However, most people except employers and such aren't worried about a good job as nearly as much as I thought. They probably only think about it only long enough to judge you and compare themselves to you if they feel inadequate, and then they put it out of mind. My reasoning is that you have your whole life ahead to make yourself happy, and not others.