Were You a "Big Fish in a Small Pond"?

[Lily Adler]

For those who were considered academically gifted in their youth, were you considered one and how did it turn out for you?

 

[Mandon Knight]

Is everyone welcome to enter this discussion or just the academically gifted ?

 

[Lily Adler]

Is everyone welcome to enter this discussion or just the academically gifted ?

Everyone is welcome. I would like those people to participate as well. I knew classmates in school who hated being in the "GT" classes growing up and wished they were back in normal classes cause it was harder.

 

[Marvolo]

A 140+ IQ and my elementary grades got me into advanced courses in middle school. It was a disaster.

Im clinically diagnosed with severe OCD and anxiety and it becomes crippling when I'm under too much stress or if a major change happens in my life. I won't go into detail but its enough to drive a person to suicide, and it does drive some unfortunate people to suicide.

With the increased workload of advanced courses, and the normal stresses of starting middle school my OCD and anxiety became dangerous and I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. As my OCD got worse I couldn't get my homework done because I was literally destroying my homework trying to make it perfect. Even the slightest imperfection in my writing and I would erase it and start over. I often erased holes in my papers, or I'd get so frustrated I would tear the work up. Id write a letter and go back over it over and over and over until I'd tear through the paper. Most nights I was up until 3 or 4 in the morning. My mom was having to stay up all night with me and stop me destroying my work and help me finish it. Both of us cried a lot that year. My increased OCD and anxiety was also making it so I could barely function outside of school.

Needless to say my parents weren't willing to risk my health and sanity for my advancement in life. And that was the end of that. They pulled me out of all advanced courses, my OCD and anxiety lessened, and I got on with life.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Everyone is welcome. I would like those people to participate as well. I knew classmates in school who hated being in the "GT" classes growing up and wished they were back in normal classes cause it was harder.

I only ask, as my 'educational journey' has been an interesting one, and works as quite a tale of 'never give up' against the system in the face of oppression, and a story that I like to think, may give others hope.

 

[DeadlyWest]

Vaguely considered smart as a kid

Now in my third and final year and I'm chronically burnt tf out and outright disillusioned with the education system

Fun times

 

[Prison Mike]

My high school had four levels…AP, Honors, Academic, and Applied. I ended up being in a mixture of AP, Honors, and Academic classes. I think my mom wanted me to be in all AP classes pretty badly (especially for math) so I ended up doubling my math classes in 10th grade (I took the regular 10th grade math class in my fall semester and then the 11th grade class during the spring semester). I took the 12th grade class when I was in 11th grade all so I could take AP Calculus when I got to 12th grade. I ended up getting a C in that class. It was the spring semester of my senior year and I honestly didn’t give a ****. Had a bad case of senioritis.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I was a small fish in a small pond.

 

[Erzengel]

I was a big fish here.