Dedication & Hard Work=Stupidity?

Book: An Unquiet Mind Kay Redfield Jamison
Song: In The End Linkin Park
Pieces: Concerto No.1 J.S. Bach

My internet is working again! For the first time since last Tuesday, and well for the first time since the 4th. Are we going to get money back for the 3 weeks that we've been out/having problems?!

Tennis season is starting out next week~. It's going to get busy again!

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Today, in psychology AP class, my "friends" and I were having discussions about "hard work" not being anything good, and that just because someone works hard, they should be considered "smart;" on the contrary, the people that are "really" smart should be considered as "smart," and those that try hard are just stupid people in GT classes only because they try.

The "friends" is in quotes because there is one girl that is not my "friend," especially since 1: she has been quite bitchy (excuse my language) for the past few weeks for I don't know what reason...(I guess I just piss her off. Good! :]), 2: I don't talk to her at all out of psychology class, and 3: she is just a "smart people wannabe." Like, seriously.

On the argument, I was obviously on the "there's nothing wrong with working hard to get a good grade." If you aren't going to put in the effort, why do you have to complain? If you know you are "smarter" than him, and the only reason why people think he is smart is because he works hard, and "looks" like he is smart, then why don't you keep on thinking it and go on?

I know the girl that is irritated is, indeed, very smart. She was in the same accelerated GT math class in middle school as I was, and is taking AP Calculus BC as a junior (as I had). She is taking a lot of AP classes as well, and I'm sure she is taking better classes than he is.

But what is wrong with trying? Being "gifted" and smart naturally. That's all great. But people that put in the effort to compensate for the lack of extreme gift, and if they can do enough and the effort pays off to the extent that they can be considered "very smart" by other people in all of his AP/GT classes... Then I see nothing wrong with that. I think, on the contrary, that the "gifted and naturally smart" person is just being lazy. Laziness. If you don't "seem" smart because you are out having "fun" while he is at home on the weekend studying... How can you argue?

I'm sorry other people seem to have misconceptions that he is "smarter" than you are. But really... if you put in the effort and even look HALF as serious as he is, I'm sure everyone will think that you are a genius.
There are people that can do well without even trying; those who can understand very well the things that normal people can't.

The girl who I mentioned above as the "wannabe"... I don't know much about her. I guess she considers herself smart. But if we are looking at how other people perceive others, most people...actually, probably everyone other than her, would think that I am much smarter than she is. And this isn't even being arrogant. It's just the way people view me.

But I work hard. (Well, I used to. These days, I slack a little... errr... Yeah. Just a little!) What did she say?

"You have a problem with what we are saying because you are one of the people we are talking about."

Um, excuse me? I may try?
My response was:

"Well I'm sorry I'm not so brilliant as you are." (I REALLY hope she got my sarcasm... -_-;)

I was quite irritated. Yes, I try. (And I didn't forget to bring everything I needed to class today.) Is there something you want to suggest about the fact that I have to "try"? I may have to "try" but I am in better classes than you are, considered smarter, considered "gifted."

You can't be in GT/AP classes just by "trying" if you aren't smart to some extent.
And though I sound like an idiot and a broken record, I don't see how it makes you stupid if you study and try to get good grades.

If you can get the same grades without trying, good for you. But I admire and think it is a very good thing that those people who have to "try" to get the same thing you do can, and take the time and effort to do so.

I'm sorry I worked hard to learn English (though I don't even remember doing so since I have "repressed memories" of the terrible times I had. It's what we are talking about in psychology: whether or not they actually exist. XD). I'm sorry I didn't grow up in a house hold that hold the belief that you have to be naturally gifted to be smart.
I'm sorry I am not in Pre Calculus senior year, and instead, finished Calculus BC AP junior year, and took Differential Equations at a community college for 1 semester.
I'm sorry I take AP Psychology with you and always get one of the highest grades in the class.
I'm sorry I take AP Spanish V while you take Russian 3(?). Value education. Value integrity and effort.

I think it is a very good "gift," if that works at all, that he can work hard and achieve what he achieves. I don't think anyone should belittle him for that.
Sure, he may not be as "smart" as you are, but that is no reason to make him inferior. Trying hard is nothing to be ashamed of. If you can do well doing so, then I think it's much better than being "naturally gifted" and doing well for no reason.

I am around many people that are completely amazingly smart, and some are actually, what I consider, geniuses.
I am around people that get 2200, 2310, 2360, 2400, on their SAT's.
I am around people that get into MIT, UPenn, Harvard, Princeton.
And they can do things that I have to take much effort in understanding, and sometimes not understanding at all. On tests that I got C's in in Differential Equations? The girl that got into MIT got 100's.
The concepts that I never understand in AP Physics? Some of my friends get it in a flash, and have taken them their junior year.

My sister, I have to admit, is MUCH smarter than I am, and have so much more "potential," as well as being "naturally gifted." But she tries.
She is planning to take mostly AP classes next year. She constantly gets 4.0's. She understands concepts, and helps her senior classmates in her Calculus AB AP class that she takes as a sophomore.
She is both sides of the argument. She is naturally smart, and tries to be even better.

Well, if you haven't gotten the idea already, I truely admire those with determination and is able to put effort into what they do, no matter how good/bad they are at things.
Because I think it's a very important factor in their life. You can't just cruise through life just because you are "smart." You have to try in many ways.
And not trying and considering yourself smart will hit you later on.