I’ve look into some Rhodes Scholars’ bios and I am so impressed by their accomplishments. How do they manage to do so many things so well?
My sense is that they are very interested in particular things, and they pursue those interests with a certain level of curiosity and intensity. They’ve probably built habits as well that help them be effective (academically, socially, extracurricularly). I’ve gotten to know a lot of them and they are indeed incredibly impressive, but at the same time, they are very down-to-earth and normal people.
I’ve noticed that some people are not only brilliant, but also have an amazing ability to focus intensely on a task for hours at a time. I’m not one of those people! But they sure get things done and I admire them.