A new national survey of nearly 11,000 girls between the ages of 10 and 18 shows that many lose confidence as they grow older, don’t view themselves as smart despite high GPAs, don’t believe they are good enough for their dream job.

When I think that half of girls aren’t sharing their opinions and what they think because they fear people won’t like them and how much we’re missing out on of their brilliance and creativity and minds and additions to the world, that disturbs me

Despite this lack of confidence, most girls in the survey said they like to be in charge — but many fear taking leadership positions because they might be thought of as bossy.

Other research that shows high school valedictorians are unlikely to be successful and wealthy, suggesting that high academic achievers are better at conforming rather than leading and innovating. Girls learn how to be good at school, Hinkelman said, and their high performance can lead educators to assume that they don’t need as much support as their peers, masking social-emotional needs.

Read the full article by Kate Stringer at The 74