Uniquely Bright: Experiences and Tips?

An anonymous reader writes: "I would like to hear from fellow /.ers that consider themselves unusually but non-traditionally 'bright' and how you have dealt with it. What are you doing now? What did you do for education? How is your life now? I'm on the verge of entering college, never having liked school much yet always in love with learning. I would like some tips, suggestions, and experience in living with an extra degree of intensity, depth, and general intelligence. I love learning, yet I never have found school enjoyable. I'm incredibly intense and concentrated, yet I often become bored of specific projects in a few months. It's not anything diagnosable (I've looked into it) but more an inherent trait. Academically, I have managed to be alright, but nothing spectacular. Lots of people I meet think I should have a 4.0 easy, but I'm pretty far from it. My interests are broad, from computers (linux/os x/php/mysql/etc) to photography to cookery, I'm creative and technical. Friends and others recognize my strength in these areas. I can't stand being completely technical alone, but I love it in moderation. My attention span is practically unlimited when I am interested in a topic, and I get intensely interested in it. I want to hear from people who share some or all of these traits. I'm just coming up on entering college, so most of my life is ahead of me. I'd like to hear about everything from your education to your career to things you wish you had done differently!" Sounds like an INTP to me.

Comments

College Life

[Laivincolmo]

Unfortunately in today's business setting, some sort of official training is neccesary. Even if you have spent 10 years of your life working with computers every day, you still unfortunately need a college degree. I'm planning on going to college in the fall and enduring the classes while also learning through experience. I think it was Herman Hesse in Siddhartha who said something about it being impossible to be taught anything. The experience is everything...

Your first textbook should be ...

[garyok]

... "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. Forget about how damn clever you think you are, just remember that all anybody has ever really been doing is trying to give you a boost when they tell you you're clever. You're not that clever. No-one is. Everybody has their own talents (and deficiencies) and people deserve respect, not some teenage nitwit telling them they're all dummies in comparison to him. Try to be clever and and 'beat' people in arguments and you'll only piss people off.

You want to learn something useful: it's better to be kind than clever.

Re:Advice

[jarich]

Smart is not always what succeeds.

Exactly. Smart is important but discipline more so. If you can't finish something, you'll never succeed at anything. And this "stick-to-it-ness" is what you'll learn in college (if you can finish it).

Why did I have to take 3 semesters of calculus, then 2 semesters of calc based stats, etc? Was it because all computer science folks need to know how to calculate volume under a curve?

No. It is to teach you how to think, how to stick with something and to finish it.

If you are as smart as you think you are, add discipline and the world is your oyster.

Re:No, I disagree

[jrockway]

Getting a PhD is helpful. At Abbott, for example, you start at level 17 whereas BS people start at 13. 17 means much higher pay, and your own office. So it does pay off. And being called Doctor isn't a bad thing :)

Been there, done that, here's my exp

[MotorMachineMercenar]

Your description of yourself is right on spot: that's what I am, too. And I'm INTP, as well. I'm currently 29 and will go to grad school in the fall. And I sounded a lot like you when I was your age. And what I've heard from friends I've gotten a lot better over time. This is mostly due to input from friends, often highly critical in no uncertain terms ("you soulless fuck") and objective self-evaluation of my strengths and weaknesses.

I know it's hard to change when you think you are The greatest in the world. But when you see and realize YOUR life will be much better when you don't act like an asshole all the time and pick your fights (verbal and physical) you'll become an even better person. I still don't possess "empathy," but I can consciously avoid hurting other people's feelings. This is especially important with point #2 below.

Here's my experiences:

1. Don't let people know how bright you are. No, really. They don't want to hear it for various reasons. It will only alienate/intimidate/annoy them and might actually cost you some very good potential friends.

2. Cherish friendships, girlfriends and other relationships. In the end the world is a very lonely place if you're out there alone with your brightness. Seriously, if you already have good friends, keep in touch with them and TAKE TIME TO ACTUALLY BE A GOOD FRIEND. If not, join a martial arts club, debate team, whatever rocks your boat. There are very good people out there. They are not necessarily as bright as you are but that doesn't mean they will not be valuable, good friends for you.

3. Find something you really, reallllly like and try to turn that into a career. If you pick a major that slightly interests you you will get bored to death real fast. Imagine how it'll be when you graduate and you actually have to earn a living doing that same shit. It doesn't work.

4. Since you've probably picked up your school it might be late, but get to a school that makes you study. That means either a very expensive, top-tier highly competitive private school or a military college. Otherwise you'll end up partying and blowing your parents money off for four years with nothing to show for it. I went to a military college myself and graduated on Dean's List. Now I'm going to a "regular" grad school (although it's the best one in Europe in my discipline) so I'm pretty worried whether I can focus myself with all the girls and booze out there.

5. I don't know if you are on a high horse, but if you are, get off it. No one likes an arrogant prick. People detest arrogant and intelligent pricks even more. Your life will be much more fun, easier and interesting if you treat other people with respect regardless of their mental or physical capabilities. Also refers back to point 2.

I hope that answers some of your questions. Life can be really hard for people like us because there just isn't enough interesting stuff to do and the world is full of stupid people. But I feel the above five points should get you ahead to a good start in an interesting adult life.

In the end, listen to your own feelings. Feelings means how you feel, it's a tough concept (at leat for me), but you'll get better over time. Also, make concious effort to gauge how other people feel about others and especially you. If you hurt your friend's/loved one's/etc. feelings, acknowledge that out loud to them at the spot and apologize or make it up. Most people "out there" care a lot about that kind of crap. About emotions and stuff like that. But when you realize that you have the power to make other people feel as good as you feel about yourself, it will come back to you in a good way, with interest.

Also, observe your own behavior and how you react to different situations or people objectively. This way you can adjust your behavior to within norms if that is necessary. This is to make your life easier and to not make you stand out like a sore thumb from the grey masses. Pick the times when you stand out. And strive to stand out in posit