Being told "You have so much potential" at 16 actually feels like a curse. Does anyone else feel paralyzed by it?

I know people mean it as a compliment. They look at what I’ve built (and recently lost) and say, "Don't worry, you're only 16, you have so much potential."

But to me, "Potential" just feels like a giant debt I haven't paid yet.

It makes me feel like I’m constantly on a timer. If I’m not maximizing every second, learning every new AI tool, or rebuilding my career right now, I feel like I’m failing that "potential."

It’s weird to feel like you’re running out of time when you haven’t even finished high school.

Does this pressure ever go away? Or do you just get better at ignoring the clock?