I have a problem with being smart...help?!?

Question

Dear Reader,

I don't mean to brag at all, but I am a twelve year old with a vocabulary of a sixteen year old! Many people want me to shut up and stop answering the questions but I know the answers! I am in all Pre-Ap classes and many people make fun of me because I always go into dept with homework assignments and my opinions. Sometimes...I just want to give up my intellect, but it's still there. What should I do?
There are often times when the teachers call on me even when I don't want to be nervous and everybody is screams out, "Teacher's Pet!" I don't want to be a teacher's pet! I just want to live my life without all the jocks and stuff making fun of me! Please give me a reason for their words...and don't say they're jealous of me. I know a lot of people think so, I know I am not ugly and I don't have low self esteem but I just want them to stop bugging me!
Signed,
-Annoyed and Confused-

Who said I wasn't popular and didn't do any extracurricular activities? I'm on the basketball team, I have a lot of cool smart non preppy dumb friends, and I live with an awesome family. I'm just tired of being the teachers pet.
Yeah, a lot of people just say stuff to make noise...very true. I couldn't agree with you more. I am proud I am this smart, I just wanted to know if I should hold back a little so the other kids could get a chance to answer a question every once in a while.
And I'm not full of myself, and I know I'm not perfect, if I was I would already be graduating from Harvard right now.

Answer 1

You will find that once you are in college there are academic benefits to being the college equivalent of "teacher's pet". That is where teaching assistants come from. Some college professors seldom actually show up to teach the class themselves. They do research with their TA's (teaching assistants) and have the TA's do all the lectures.

Realize that the reactions which you get are based upon insecurity within your classmates. They want to think that everyone is just like them. To have someone be smarter than them gives them lower self-esteem, so they try to hold back anyone who deviates from the norm. That is why clique groups form in school.

Be confidant in who you are. You don't have to answer to them, but you do face the consequences for the decisions that you make. Continue to make the right decisions and study hard and you will do well in life, while those who would desire to hold you back won't do so well.

Answer 2

Azooga--
First, you need to get over yourself. I'm sure you're very intelligent, well-read, and get good grades. And although it seems that you may be very intelligent, there are others out there like you. (I had the same problem in school.) Part of being brilliant is being humble, even when it is frustrating in general education classes (such as, you're tired of hearing people give the wrong answers, etc.) Remember that you may be gifted, but you're not perfect, and I bet you don't even get every question right.
Second, you're in junior high. That's tough for smart people. Junior high kids are mercilessly cruel, focus on the lowest common denominator, and are ruled by mob mentality. This is a time that you just have to endure. Throw yourself into extra activities in which you can excel.
Third, do not sacrifice your future by bowing into your peers' pressure on you not to be "teacher's pet." Yet, think about how your answers and actions sound. How are you delivering those answers? Do you insult your classmates? Do you look down upon them because they're not so smart? Do you think people perceive you as such? (I know this was a problem for me.)

Good luck, hang in there--think about what you can learn from your classmates (even if it isn't book knowledge). That's what you really can learn now. Keep yourself active and involved. Do more than the minimum.

Answer 3

Just tell them "Umm, sorry to break it to you, but I'm going to college and you're not." And it's true. You're probably going to end up going to some Christ-like college and become an incredibly rich writer or something. Just ignore them and keep being smart.
I think maybe the reason for them saying that stuff is because you're different. Not different in a bad way, but different because they're not as smart as you. And sorry, but some of them probably are jealous of you. They wish they were as high up as you, so in order to be as high as you, they have to bring you down with annoying insults.

Answer 4

bear with it... surely you can see the value of retaining your intellect and nurturing your mind... when you're in college, or heck, all the ap classes in highshcool, the past will be behind you and your future will be bright.

Btw... they're doing it because they're immature... they just want to make noise... like many kids do. It's a social thing... you see, you don't fit in and they react a certain way, it's how society has always operated, and when you take sociology, you'll see you're not the only one stigmatized.

Answer 5

i had the vocabulary/reading level of a post highschool student in the 5th grade, so i kno how it feels. who cares about what they say? ur gonna be workin in a cushy air-conditioned office, while they flip burgers and such. those " jocks" are gonna end up fat and washed up in 15 years, anyway.

Answer 6

I had a similar situation.. but now I'm much older and.. you know, you reach the level of maturity sooner than the others but one day they will reach it, too. Just.. wait:)
People never like being worse, so...

Answer 7

They do that because they are kids, you will find that out later on in life. Don't let them get to you it is normal.

Answer 8

get ditzy preppy friends
theyll get ya dum
or if u r really dat smart u woudntcare what peaople think ur gonna get places and they wont