Being the Smartest in School: A Reflective Journey

It's a commonly held belief that there is often a 'smartest' student in a school, someone who consistently excels academically. However, being the smartest doesn't always come with the perks it seems to promise. While it might feel good to ace every test, it can also bring its own set of challenges and vulnerabilities.

The Constant Striver

I was that student. The one who never missed a day when it came to getting the best grades. Teachers would often point me out as the model student, drawing comparisons with my classmates. For the most part, I kept a low profile. I didn't flaunt my achievements because it often led to others despising me. Instead, I focused on maintaining a balance between my personal goals and my relationships with my peers.

As it turns out, being the smartest doesn't give you a free pass. I had my share of exams where my grades just didn't meet the expectations. Despite that, I felt a sense of pride knowing that I had worked hard to maintain my standing. I hope I didn't let my grades down, even when the grade point average was a little lower than average.

The Supportive Classmates

The camaraderie in my 11th and 12th grade class was something I deeply appreciated. My classmates respected me and provided me with necessary support. In my valedictorian speech, I made sure to mention them, underappreciating them as I did so often. These classmates were nice, and I realized that I had taken their support for granted. They truly were a supportive and understanding group who had my back.

The Transition to Enrichment

Being labeled as the smartest brought me to a pivotal moment. I found myself sitting in classes that moved at such a glacial pace that I would often find myself daydreaming. Finishing assignments and participating in discussions became a mere chore rather than an engaging activity. The monotony of such classes almost led me to believe that I was among the slower students in the room.

My fortunes changed when I was selected to transfer to an enriched program in a different school district. The prerequisites for admission were nothing short of rigorous—top 30 students across the entire city were selected based on IQ tests and academic scores. While the enriched program wasn't as challenging as I had hoped, it was a considerable improvement over the previous four years of schooling. The program infused a sense of rigor and challenge that I had been deprived of earlier.

The Harsh Reality at Prestigious Institutions

Some would argue that being the smartest in a school is a desirable trait, but it can have unforeseen consequences. My experience taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of academic perseverance and the unpredictability of performance. A friend of mine, a former professor at Caltech, observed that many of his students struggled upon arriving at the university. Their identities were deeply intertwined with being the smartest student in their school, city, and even state. However, at Caltech, it was a different scenario. Everyone was smart, and some were far smarter than others, a reality that crushed many of these students' egos.

Conclusion

Being the smartest in school isn't a straightforward path to success. It comes with its unique set of challenges, from societal expectations to maintaining a sense of personal humility. While the enriched program provided a more academically rigorous environment, it also showed me the stark reality of what lies ahead. The transition to more prestigious institutions like Caltech revealed the harsh realities of academic competition. It is a lesson in the importance of staying grounded and adapting to new environments.

Keywords: school intelligence, academic success, enriched program, student ego