Do you think that anyone can be smart?

Question

Example- My brother is 19, he is a year and a half older. He spent his public school days slacking off, sleeping in class and never doing homework. He always did excellent on tests though, including the SAT. Now he just finished his first year at college and made the deans list and got all A's. He takes classes such as advanced physics and calculus. He wants to be an engineer. I spent my publics schools days working my *** off for B's and the occassional A. Now here I am the end of my senior year and incredibly fustrated. I am terrible in math and science courses. I have been accepted into a good college but I don't even know what to do there. There are certain things I want to be but I don't know if I can handel those jobs. I tried so hard to comprehend certain concepts in chemisry and algebra but I could never get them. Why is my brother able to accomplish so much when I struggle to be "average"? Why are some people just smart while others are not?

P.S. Often times when I give examples like the one I just gave, people tend to just focus on that. That isn't what I want though. I don't need answers for my personnal quarter life crisis. It's just an example.

But do you think that everyone can be just as smart or are there certain chemicals in us that just prevent it?

Answer 1

My experience is that concentration power makes all the difference.... the smart guys have just a bit more of and that results in a considerable reduction of efforts required to succeed. There are certain subjects like Maths etc. where only those excel who have powers of abstract logic and others really feel miserable in such subjects.
However, the smart guys never learn to work hard and in the later stages of life, they do suffer due to this.

Answer 2

Asking why some people are naturally smarter in certain areas than others is like asking why some people are nicer than others, or why some people are born brunettes, etc...
It's genetic makeup.
Some people just "get stuff" easier than others. I am HORRIBLE at anything related to math - but I excell at humanities. I am the world's worst speller, but I have incredible comprehension. Why? who knows. My dad has a Master's in Finance... I mean, I guess I just didnt' get the math stuff from him!

Not everyone gets to be an Einstein - it's just the way it is. It sucks, but we all have different strengths and weaknesses. Perhaps you should focus less on what others can do and more on what your "natural" gifts are....

Answer 3

First of all please don't be so hard on yourself. As I don't know the answer to your question but the same thing did happen to me. My sister is 1 1/2yrs older than me. She was a straight A student and never studied. It all came so natural to her (just like mother hood does to most new mothers). I guess it's the luck of the draw. I struggled myself and studied by **** off. Just be true to yourself and don't try to compare yourself cause it will only make you feel worse. As long as you do the best you can do then be proud of yourself. Your brother is just one of the lucky one that it comes natural too. Are you afraid that people won't be as proud of you now and will be prouder of him? Did people praise you more in high school then him? If so then this is probably a big adjustment for you, the attention got taken away from you. I believe praise builds the self esteem and in turns helps you feel better and do better. Sorry I wasn't much help but wanted to tell you that your not alone. Chin up and good luck to you.....

Answer 4

No.

I believe that each of us is limited by biological, psychological and environmental obstacles that can be compensated for, but not entirely ameliorated.

Fortunately, while a loose correlation does indeed exist, fortune and happiness are not entirely dependent upon intelligence.

Lastly, your question forces me to ask: Why are some people taller than others? More symmetrical (and thus better looking)? Stronger? More sensitive to bright light? In the end, we must accept this important diversity as such. My teeth tend to withstand the abuse of plaque and cavity-causing germs...just lucky, I suppose!

Answer 5

Different people are meant for different things. Some people are gifted with intelligence and are meant to lead a certain life, while others - like you - may not be as book smart but I guarantee that there is something out there that you can do WAY better than he could ever dream of and you'd love it. Just figure out what you love (your passion) and go from there. You don't necessarily need a college education.

Answer 6

Intelligence is somewhere in your genetics. How smart are your parents and grandparents? A lot of great ideas, knowledge, and understanding is located deep down in your subconscious mind. No excuse to just sleep. Try mind - opening, or strengthening activities, and think about everything in at least two different ways. Also, maybe your brother didn,t slack as much as everyone thinks. Do you study outside of school?

Answer 7

Just as we are all born with different color hair, eyes, fat, skinny, athletic or not. Certain abilities in mental comprehension is genetically predispositioned. Some people are born to be artists, some are born engineers, some athletes, others are just worker drones (factory workers that live for their afternoon beer) we are all very different. Mental capacity is very much genetic. Left brain, right brain or both alters your ability to do better at math, or language, or art, or spacial recognition. It's all a matter of random natural selection. That's not to say you can't get better at something by practicing and studying but you'll never be football player if your 120lbs soaking wet and you'll never be a ballerina if your 6'4" and 320lbs. To often we forget that our brains are made up of proteins and fire chemical signals...and not made of some divine spiritual nowhere land hocus pocus magic dust.

Answer 8

any good teacher can tell you that genius is as common as dirt. everyone is smart. school, being designed to rank you in comparison with your peers, has no way of recognizing or acknowledging your natural genius which only you possess.

if you are good at things like school and jumping through hoops and following other peoples instructions, then it will be an advantage that will help you succeed as a bureaucrat in a government job, or as some kind of institutional worker, or working as an underling who takes other peoples orders.

if you are not good at school then your advantage is that it will force you to look for yourself to find your own genius, and to develop it. while the "smart" ones are busy doing what they are told, you have an opportunity to master yourself. that holds more promise than anything school can possibly offer you.

Answer 9

Given enough time and focus any healthy person can learn and retain information. Even those with mental disabilities can be guided into retaining vast amounts of information. But I ask you this question: Does knowing "stuff" make you smart or just a good jeopardy contestant? Lots of people who drive taxis can tell you the names of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Answer 10

everyone is different and it takes all kinds of poeple to make the world go around. . not everyone is going to be top of the class but that doesn't mean that they are not an important part of the overall picture. . . you just have to find what you are good at if your not good at chemistry and algebra then look for a path that doesn't include them there are plenty of carreers in the world. Don't be so hard on yourself. . .find what you enjoy and are good at and go for it. .