The thing that really brought this to my attention was a close high-school friend of mine who, in high school, was “one of the dumb kids”… that is, not learning-disabled, but not on the honors/college-bound track. When we graduated he was reluctant to come visit me in college, because I’d gone to MIT and “he wouldn’t have anything in common with all those smart kids.” Etc.
The thing was, it was clear to me that he was every bit as smart as I was, and in fact when he did come visit he was astonished to discover that he fit in with my college friends quite well… he’d thought I was some kind of fluke. He’s since gone on to a successful career as an industry analyst. Every once in a while I tease him about being “one of the dumb kids” and he acknowledges that no, he was just wrong about that.
I wish I understood better how the transition happened, because I suspect that a lot of equally capable people don’t manage that transition… and, as you say, drop the habit.
Yes.
The thing that really brought this to my attention was a close high-school friend of mine who, in high school, was “one of the dumb kids”… that is, not learning-disabled, but not on the honors/college-bound track. When we graduated he was reluctant to come visit me in college, because I’d gone to MIT and “he wouldn’t have anything in common with all those smart kids.” Etc.
The thing was, it was clear to me that he was every bit as smart as I was, and in fact when he did come visit he was astonished to discover that he fit in with my college friends quite well… he’d thought I was some kind of fluke. He’s since gone on to a successful career as an industry analyst. Every once in a while I tease him about being “one of the dumb kids” and he acknowledges that no, he was just wrong about that.
I wish I understood better how the transition happened, because I suspect that a lot of equally capable people don’t manage that transition… and, as you say, drop the habit.