Slashdot Mirror
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.
My long lost twin! Welcome home!
But seriously, I got D's and F's all through gradeschool and highschool, except those classes which intrigued me -- chemistry, math, biology. When I got to college, to my surprise, I maintained a 4.0 average throughout. Go figure.
I think it has to do with self-direction. Usually, if I can chose the subject I want to focus on, I excel. Otherwise, if it's something that I have to learn, I can't focus enough mental energy to light a pen bulb.
I used to think the reason was related to travel. From birth, until I was college age, the average time I spent in one country was about three or four years. The longest I stayed in the same school was two years.
But now my oldest son (just entering college) has had the same issue with grades and he has lived in the same town his whole life. (So it's probably not environmental.)
Bottom line, you will probably LOVE college. Hang in there, bro!
wow, that's great. someone writes in asking for advice, and everyone jumps on him with a big stick: you are not that smart or special, get over yourself, etc etc. he didn't ask you to be judge, jury, and moral executioner, ok? he asked for some advice.
maybe you could stop projecting your own insecurities all over him for a few seconds, that would be great.
I have a feeling the root intention of your post was to remind him that a sense of humility is a beneficial thing, and I agree totally with this sentiment.
but why attack him? when he says he's "unusually but non-traditionally bright" it makes me curious--sounds like a potential friend, sounds like the kind of person I wish I met more often in the world. I hear a degree of self-confidence.
when you try to beat him back down, it just seems like more of the narrow-minded judgemental malice that gives me a headache.
ask yourself why you preach humility with this harsh, sarcastic comment. there are better ways
"maybe i'm one of the people that would score low on these tests but how, exactly, do you test for humor?"
You failed. Thank you for testing for humor. Come back soon!
"Derp de derp."