3 ms·

it's a nice story, but it doesn't apply to 99% of kids who do not possess the same level of intelligence this person. In today's academic environment, it's dow

by pcurve 13y ago

it's a nice story, but it doesn't apply to 99% of kids who do not possess the same level of intelligence this person. In today's academic environment, it's downright impossible to get an F as a gifted person, unless you're making a statement. And that's a luxury most kids including highly intelligent ones (IQ 130+ or top 3-4%) don't have.

usea 13y ago
> In today's academic environment, it's downright impossible to get an F as a gifted person, unless you're making a statement. I might be misunderstanding you, but I don't agree. I was in the gifted program starting in 3rd grade, through high school. I got many Fs in junior high and high school, and I eventually dropped out of high school in my junior year I think. Granted it's been 10 years ago now. I spent 5 years either working in fast food or doing nothing. Eventually I took the ACT, got my GED, and got my CS degree from a public university. I'm doing very well now, and I feel like failing school and taking some years off helped me a lot. I'm sure I'd be nowhere near where I am now if I had stayed in school.
nostrademons 13y ago
I'm always reluctant to chalk things up to raw intelligence, because intelligence is a really complex, many-faceted concept and when many people say "He's really smart" they really mean "He's put in the time to learn how to do things that I don't understand myself." I will admit, though, that intelligence probably helped me, and the "ace your standardized tests" route probably wouldn't work for someone who can't just look at a math problem and know how to solve it without learning the material. However, my broader point is that you should use the advantages you've been given to make a mark on the outside world and work your way around obstacles. For me, that was intelligence and mathematical ability. However, other people have other strengths that they could be using but many aren't. My girlfriend realized in high school she would never be super-special in academics or test scores (though she's no slouch either), but she's a champion networker and really good at putting people at ease, and that's gotten her a job as an investor at a highly-regarded philanthropic foundation. My uncle struggled throughout high school, almost didn't get into college, took 5 years to graduate - but found that he has a knack for cars, and now makes a very good living owning a chain of auto-body stores.
- deleted 13y ago
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by pcurve 13y ago

usea 13y ago

> In today's academic environment, it's downright impossible to get an F as a gifted person, unless you're making a statement. I might be misunderstanding you, but I don't agree. I was in the gifted program starting in 3rd grade, through high school. I got many Fs in junior high and high school, and I eventually dropped out of high school in my junior year I think. Granted it's been 10 years ago now. I spent 5 years either working in fast food or doing nothing. Eventually I took the ACT, got my GED, and got my CS degree from a public university. I'm doing very well now, and I feel like failing school and taking some years off helped me a lot. I'm sure I'd be nowhere near where I am now if I had stayed in school.

nostrademons 13y ago

I'm always reluctant to chalk things up to raw intelligence, because intelligence is a really complex, many-faceted concept and when many people say "He's really smart" they really mean "He's put in the time to learn how to do things that I don't understand myself." I will admit, though, that intelligence probably helped me, and the "ace your standardized tests" route probably wouldn't work for someone who can't just look at a math problem and know how to solve it without learning the material. However, my broader point is that you should use the advantages you've been given to make a mark on the outside world and work your way around obstacles. For me, that was intelligence and mathematical ability. However, other people have other strengths that they could be using but many aren't. My girlfriend realized in high school she would never be super-special in academics or test scores (though she's no slouch either), but she's a champion networker and really good at putting people at ease, and that's gotten her a job as an investor at a highly-regarded philanthropic foundation. My uncle struggled throughout high school, almost didn't get into college, took 5 years to graduate - but found that he has a knack for cars, and now makes a very good living owning a chain of auto-body stores.

deleted 13y ago
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