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Sometimes you get hit by a wave of curiosity, wondering where that one person from school is now. Social media has done wonders to allow us to keep in touch, even when we maybe would prefer to keep our distance, but sometimes it can be interesting to hear others’ experiences.
A netizen wanted to hear others’ stories about where the “smart kid” from school ended up after everyone graduated. From brilliant careers, and weird turns to tragedy, the internet delivered, so prepare to sift through a multitude of human experiences, be sure to upvote your favorites and comment your own tales below. We also got in touch with therapist and neuroscientist Bobbi Banks to learn more.
More info: Bobbi Banks | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
He went to Harvard Law School then moved back and created a startup that helps make healthcare accessible in disadvantaged communities. Was a great guy then and great guy now.
#2
That was me. I'm now a stay-at-home dad of four wonderful kids and in a loving, sixteen year marriage. My wife is my best friend. While I may not have reached my full potential academically, I'm happy. Very happy. I realized that life is too short to care about anything other than living my life the way that I want to, not the way that I'm expected to.
Violet1854 1 year ago
Having a big brain and a big job, and not finding happiness is just awful. I am happy for you!!
#3
I amounted to nothing.
Is what most people would say looking at me. But the truth is I am living a satisfying and happy life, no debt because I chose not to go to college, a wonderful woman who is madly in love with me and I her, and I enjoy my free time doing what I love. I'm happy. I'm not rich. I don't have a prestigious job or title, but I am legitimately satisfied with life.
I win.
Bored Panda got in touch with award-winning integrative counselor, coach, and neuroscientist Bobbi Banks to learn more about how high school affects a person's development. “High school is considered a key period in our development. It’s a time when we start to establish our identity and how we fit into the world around us. Whether filled with positive or negative experiences, it’s a time of many firsts and emotionally charged memories.”
“Strong emotions often equal strong memories, which explains why we often think of people from high school in the later stages of life. Apart from the general curiosity we all have, we check up on the people from our past who made us feel something. It’s often closely linked to what’s currently going on in our lives or perhaps something we’re missing, longing for, or even something we’re trying to heal from. Essentially, it stems from the desire to experience certain feelings again or to process painful memories which may have been triggered in our present.”
#4
Smartest guy from my high school became an actual rocket scientist.
#5
Dropped out of college to marry and support the much younger woman he got pregnant. Now (30 years later) owns a boardgame store with a large back room for mini painting and games and plays dad to half the neurodivergent kids in town. Still married to the same woman too. It's not a high flying life but he makes a difference to so many people.
To make y'all feel better: He was 23 I think and she was 18, a big age gap when you're young. It was also in the Netherlands, were at least at the time (I've been gone a while) we didn't really care so much as long as it wasn't a 10 year difference or one of them was under 15. Teenagers have sex drives, it happens.
#6
Superstar pediatric neurosurgeon.
Most confident person I’ve ever met. (Guess you’d have to be, to cut open a little kid’s skull and operate on their brain.)
Panda Kicki 1 year ago
We had two smartest ones. One became a neuroscientist doing international research and the other one a stay at home parent of a 4-5 kids ,writing urban fantasy for fun. Both are equally happy and enjoys their choosen paths 😀
Even as adults, people still invoke feelings and concepts about who one was in school. “The people who have had mainly positive memories may find themselves longing for the sense of belonging, connection, freedom, and acceptance they may have experienced, especially when they’re facing challenges or are feeling disconnected in the present. Revisiting such memories or reconnecting with those people in some way is an attempt to recapture the feelings or provide temporary relief,” Bobbi shared with Bored Panda.
#7
That was me! Or smartest as in best achieving academically. Went on to uni and studied history and a masters in medieval history, graduated both top of the class. Everyone expected me to do a PhD but I found academics too lonely and wanted to have a more social workplace so became a history teacher in high school instead and love it!
#8
There were two. They were twins. They're both geneticists now with PHDs, and they work at the same university.
#9
He went to MIT, works for Apple, and has a very expensive home in California. He also has a wife and 4 kids and seems to be very happy. I remember he was programming games in high school and was valedictorian. A big nerd who became a wealthy big nerd.
“On the other hand, people who have had negative or traumatic experiences may also often recollect painful memories from high school and the people behind them. This can be a way of processing unresolved emotions, healing the wounds they carry, and seeking closure. Contemplating the challenging relationships of the past can also be a means of reaffirming their personal boundaries and ensuring they avoid repeating unhealthy patterns in their present and future interactions.”
#10
Guy had 3 scholarship offers, lasted 1 year in uni before jumping off a building. Feel sorry for him and his family.
#11
Died from a brain tumour right after he graduated high school. He was dang smart. Could play the piano upside down too.
#12
She got a PhD is Neuroscience from Stanford and I think she's a professor or associate professor somewhere now. She was possibly the sweetest girl I'd ever met. I was an intelligent underachiever, and ended up in a few AP courses with her because our teachers saw my test scores and refused to continue to let me do dips**t things with my dips**t friends; she was always super proud of me when I actually showed up and put some effort in and, Lo and behold, got excellent marks. Honestly she really turned around the last 2 years of HS for me. Also she's wicked hot now. A hot genius.
“Ultimately, reminiscing about both positive and negative aspects of high school experiences can serve as a powerful catalyst for self-discovery and self-awareness. It allows us to confront our past selves, reflect on our vulnerabilities, and appreciate the lessons we learned along the way. By recognizing the connections between our past and present, we become better equipped to shape a more meaningful and fulfilling future.”
#13
I ended up being a drug addict and a cook at a bar. Being smart doesn't do anything if it just drives you to insecurity and depression, except make you loathe yourself for not living up to your potential.
ILoveMySon 1 year ago
I hope OP gets help and realizes it is never too late to fulfill dreams.
#14
Not my class but the one above me, and it was my brother. He was superlative winner: best smile, most likely to be famous, likely to succeed, best dressed, most likely to be famous, etc… the school made him pick two. He also won prom king and fulfilled all his projected roles.
As his little sister, my big brother is my absolute HERO of a human all around. He is a PA making bank, drives a cool car, humble af, has a beautiful gf I hope to call my SIL one day.
Me? I got “seinoritis” and the school had to call my Mom to let me know I needed to show up for superlative pics lol. I’m an artist. I work with rockstars on the spectrum. I have a hundred plants and solo travel to go hiking. Imo, WE made it. All the money in the world wouldn’t put me through his academic endurance. He is such a great role model, I’m so blessed to have him as my big brother and best friend. He calls me for his mental turmoils and I make time. I call him when I made a new art/plant sale. Our relationship is unmatched.
#15
He's in jail for murder. Came as a surprise.
Lastly, we wanted to know if high school really can show who a person will be or if it’s not the be-all, end-all of a person’s life. “Although high school plays a significant role in shaping our identity and values, I don't believe it's the sole determinant of future success or happiness. It's only a chapter and luckily we are the authors of our life story. The past will always be a part of us but we shouldn't forget that today's actions also hold power in determining tomorrow's reality.”
Bobbi has resources available on her blog here, and you can find her Instagram page here.
#16
He is currently an aerospace engineer who played a big role in the engineering of the Canadarm.
#17
I believe he works for NASA. He deleted his Facebook a while ago (like the smartest kid in our class would do), but that’s what he was doing last I checked.
Feathered Dinosaur 1 year ago (edited)
It's my biggest desire to fly up into space one day. And an even greater desire to make it back alive
#18
He got his PhD in engineering, started his own company, and was a multimillionaire by 45.
#20
Crushed under the weight of expectations and mental illness he burned out and works call centers now instead of his full potential.
#21
She married a religious fruitcake 12 years older than she was almost immediately after graduation and started pumping out kids. Never went to college. Has never had a job. Spends her days on Facebook shaming people for being sinners.
Jill Bussey 1 year ago
Has anyone thought to contact her, as my initial reaction is that she's caught in a cult.
Sunny Day 1 year ago
A girl I know of got a full ride scholarship to Brown, and turned it down because her religious zealot fiance told her "Women don't need college. They don't have careers. They stay home and raise the children while the man works ". They got married and had a couple kids, but she had to get a job to support the family because hubby was too busy "studying" to be the next leader of their church (when his daddy retired). Seems women can't have "careers", but they CAN work s****y minimum wage jobs.
Celtic Pirate Queen 1 year ago
Does it go without saying she's an anti vax, Trump supporting whack job?
Yuffa Kinazzo 1 year ago
Probably. You should have taken that scholarship to Brown. Best of luck. Make America Great AGAIN
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Maggie Mae 1 year ago
God is Watching her Closely!! She will Have to Answer to Him one Day!! He is the HIGHER POWER not She!!
Vicki Perizzolo 1 year ago
those people should be spay/neutered - it can only be a blessing to everyone else
Jude Corrigan 1 year ago
I hate the term 'religious fruitcake'. If it was true, wouldn't what they were dishing out taste better?
VioletHunter 1 year ago
Sounds more like "freedom" to get brainwashed into a cult.
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Iridian 1 year ago
Being book-smart does not equate to being smart about life (street smart).
Load More Replies... Java Addict 1 year ago
My understanding of its use here is merely implying that the person was a religious zealot. Words can have multiple meanings.
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#22
He was an idealist, became a priest and served in the Vatican, became disillusioned and left the church, got two masters degrees, and died by his own hand. He was a truly good person who couldn’t marry his ideals with the reality of the church.
Feathered Dinosaur 1 year ago
I see a theme here: get into academia, become a religious nutcase, or take your own life. Seems he did all three of them
#23
All the pressure made me have a mental break down in college. I was diagnosed with many illnesses mentally. Finished my first round with a 3.98.
Got diagnosed with fibromyalgia. F****d my body and memory so bad i had to quit my job working at our doctor's office. Developed severe myofascial pelvoc pain syndrome.
I lost everything. Including my husband. He cheated and left because not working made me not part of the team.
I wish I put more effort into experiences rather than education as now I'm disabled and it all feels pointless and worthless as I'm in debt I can't work out of.
talliloo 1 year ago
your story is very similar to mine even to having the disease taking away everything. i mourned for about five years and then woke up and said life is going to be what i make it. so, even in daily pain and often disappointed with the fact that i still lose the ability to do certain things as the disease progresses - please don't give up! but, also remember that it is perfectly okay to be angry/resentful. i have about 2 pity party days a year and then pull up my granny panties and move on.
#24
He went to ace the board exam... twice in two different fields. I couldn't be prouder. Most importantly, he became my boyfriend and changed many perspectives I had in life. I'd have never lived up to this day were it not for him, and I hope I did (and still do) my best to care for him the same. It wasn't always shiny days. He had very depressive episodes, with lots of doubts and being forced to face heavy pressure. We had a toxic relationship in between and a lot of things weren't healthy at all. I even projected a lot of insecurities, especially being with this very intelligent person compared to my "inferior self". Imagine hormones and adulting mixing up, wow. Fortunately, we are in a sooo much better state right now. Man, was it a journey. We changed and developed as our own individuals, with lots of moments shared together. I'm lucky to have him. I don't care if he's smart or whatever, he's fcking funny and is able to listen to me rant about whatever favorite thing I have for the day. He's not a cat person, but damn I'm trying to convert him through the cat subreddits here. And I'll be here for him.
Nay Wilson 1 year ago
He is a cat person, he just doesn’t know it yet. When his cat finds him he’ll be converted in an instant and then there’s no going back 🙂
#25
He moved to Poland and became a Molecular Biologist.
The Idaho Potato 1 year ago
Off topic: I'm doing stuff in a molecular biology lab over at Duke Uni, the same one that created the first treatment for GSDII aka Pompe Disease.
#26
She's a professor at Oxford University.
ЛеснойКороль(they/he)🇺🇦🇷🇺 1 year ago
my little sister wants to go to oxford. really low acceptance rate. She’s determined though!
#27
She worked at John’s Hopkins doing research with Psilocybin.
ЛеснойКороль(they/he)🇺🇦🇷🇺 1 year ago
Cool! Isn’t John Hopkins a huge prestigious uni? or is it a hospital? Sorry, not american, not sure :)
#28
After never having even smoked a cigarette or drank alcohol in high school, straight As all the way through, he got a full ride to a really good university. As a freshman he dropped acid, walked out in front of a car and was killed.
#29
[EDIT: Let me correct my post. She married the now SECOND richest man. It’s hard to keep up with the billionaires and how fast their interest doubled their wealth over the pandemic 🙄]
She married the (now) richest man in the world. Divorced him and is now the 4th richest human. Not bad.
#30
She became an right wing religious fanatic with 9 kids.
What do you think ?
Christof Irran 1 year ago
The smartest kid in my high school class is typing sh!t on Bored Panda; right now, even as we speak (type?) :-)
Wysteria_Rose 1 year ago
Smartest in my grade was my best friend, top of the class. She now teaches at our high school in a teeny tiny town. People would say that she really should have moved away, could have gone to a huge university, done more with herself, but I know her and she's happy teaching high school and living close to her family. I fully support and love her.
Leo Domitrix 1 year ago
Same for me. She's awesome doing what she did. :-)
Load More Replies... censorshipsucks 1 year ago (edited)
Guy I knew at school was a straight-A but ended up just being an after-school tutor. Could have done big things. But at least now he's stepping up again and going digital, which helps grow his business. Whereas I was a C- student mostly and I was the one that ended up with high academic achievements (publications, phd, etc), and I was the one that ended up in a high-powered job. Weird hey. Just shows that school marks don't mean that much.
Gardener of Weeden 1 year ago
But maybe he is happy. That is actually the true measure of success.
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DBear 1 year ago
Not sure if he was the smartest but he was definitely up there. Came into my store and asked if he could do any odd jobs for cash. Told me he was homeless. I couldn't do anything like that because of corporate policies but I gave a few bucks and I had helped him put in a job application. He failed the background check. Apparently, he had quite the criminal record. Was the last I saw of him.
David A Paterson 1 year ago
There was a smart kid in my high school? News to me. It was not a school known for the intelligence of its students.
Lia Joseph 1 year ago
The smartest kid in my H.S was a exchange student named Bjorn. Legally he was supposed to be in grade 8 but did grade nine and ten. Was super smart, super funny and the friendliest dude you could meet. He was killed when he was nineteen when his home got broken into. Tragic and awful
Montanavanna 1 year ago
This post made me wonder who was the smartest in my school. Probably this kid who got a perfect score on the SATs. No idea what he is doing but after the school found out we celebrated his achievement at a school pep rally. The school erupted in praise for him. It was a beautiful moment.
Cake 1 year ago
My friend was one of the smartest kids in school—straight A's without even trying. She ended up getting in with the wrong crowd, fell in love with a guy 15 years older than her, ended up addicted to heroin, and got pregnant at 17. Never graduated despite having dreams of going to college, suddenly went missing during senior year, and nobody knew where she went. 5 years later, we found out that she was involved in a crime ring, and was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison. After being released from prison, she ended up as a prostitute, nearly lost custody of her child, and was pregnant with her 2nd. Good thing was that, she eventually got her GED and was accepted into a college. After that, she fell in love with this guy (really nice. He treats her right), became a fashion designer, got married, and recently welcomed her 3rd child. Honestly, everyone kind of looked down on her back then for going down such a destructive path, but I'm happy for her and how she managed to turn her lif
Kiwii Stone 1 year ago
Got turned down from Oxford and Cambridge for 'not having enough extra curriculars' (translation: was a stuck up a**e who thought everyone and everything was below him). His friend who was lovey got in, lol
Gardener of Weeden 1 year ago
Some people who do not do extracurricular, are lovely people who have serious insecurities. I know a very very smart man, who's social anxiety stops him from participating in any group activities. But if you met him you would state that he was the nicest person you had ever met.
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Monday 1 year ago (edited)
If memory serves my year's smartest guy was the rugby team captain (yay for breaking athlete stereotypes). He was all set to go off to medical school after that last summer holiday but he ended up getting hit and killed by a taxi(minibus for you non SA folks). Ironically his last facebook post had been of a tombstone he found with his best friend's name on it.
Aub 1 year ago
We had covaledictorians my senior year, and while we haven't been out for that long, one is a youtuber growing at a steady rate who's in college for digital media to please his parents, and the other is a hairdresser at a local salon. I wasn't ever in the running for valedictorian, but I graduated 7th in my class, and most considered me one of the "smart kids", mainly because I was really good at explaining things in different ways to those who struggled. Now I'm in college to be a psychologist for neurodivergent and disabled kids. I want to give people the support that I never got myself.
Cosmologist wannabe 1 year ago
This is technically a story from a kid in my moms class. He was one of the weird kids and, he once almost electrocuted himself with a fork and a socket. Now he is a college prof and a leading string theorist. He was a triple major.
MLG Parrot 1 year ago
Well I was the smartest kid in my class (asperger) now I'm disabled at 19, I feel 91.
B-b-bird 1 year ago
"Crying because of A- "brought back memories about classmate. Exactly the same, cried over A- because it was "unfair" and was standing in his way to get into ivy league university on full tuition at age of 16. So he was genius I may say. Though, always grumpy and was taking badly any possibility of being ever wrong. In fact A- got corrected to A+ after a lot of begging and proving teacher wrong. Was working for worldwide known organizations as a researcher. Was in the middle of doing PHD and just straight up dropped studies, work and left to volunteer to some African country away from everything. Probably it was some sort of breakdown.
Happy crow dragon (they/any) 1 year ago
The smartes kid in my class is saying this: 4 suicide attempts before the start of 8th grade
Dawnieangel76 1 year ago
That was me. Gave up everything to take care of my family in various levels of physical & mental health. Now living in a s****y rented house with otherly-abled siblings and a thankfully bright & independent niece (raised her too) paying for everything, no vacations, no friends, no life.
Stay Off My Lawn 1 year ago
I like how this post shows the dark side of genius and the crushing weight of everyone else’s expectations.
Morgan entrikin 1 year ago
Those who referred to themselves as the smartest person in their school seemed very disillusioned to me
Bennett Hilton 1 year ago
I’m in high school on the smarter side (I’m in the highest math class and stuff like that) and I just hope none of that happens to me
Michelle C 1 year ago
I wouldn’t say I knew who the smartest was for sure, but one of them became a pastor and lives much further down south than where the school still is. Anyone who knew him knew he’d do something faith-based because he was certain of his calling young!
brandyy17 1 year ago
the smartest kid in my grade became a mental illness specialist. he helped ALOT of ppl. all who now live normal lives instead of being stuck in a psych ward. unfortunately he took on a patient that proved too difficult and the paitent stabbed him. from wat i heard he was stabbed in the neck and died on the way to the hospital. i went to his funeral and most of my graduating class and a few teachers were there. not only them tho. all 300 and something paitents who now live normal lives came too. he was a truly loved person. he tutored me in high school and i remember to this day he said during one of the tutoring sessions "wen we graduate i want to learn how to help ppl like u. only the ones with extreme cases who cant live normal lives. u r my inspiration." he apparently took an interest in the fact i have an anxeity disorder that prevented me from learning properly. on top of that i had adhd at the time too. if he was still alive id totally get him to b my doctor and immediately joke about how im worse now then i was then. its been a year since he passed. i still talk to his mom every now and then and she always thanks me for giving him a goal and cheering him on the whole way thru college and stuff. he managed to graduate with his phd and everything 3 years early bc of how motivated my cheering him on made him. it really is depressing. he was such a kind soul and a good friend
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
I believe the smartest kid from school was a girl, and I can't find where she's ended up. I suspect because she got married and changed her name. The second smartest wanted to be a doctor, and I believe he actually is a well regarded pediatrician now.
Katie Lutesinger 1 year ago
He was super smart, also nerdy and shy. Touchingly, the cool, popular guys never picked on him and helped him come out of his shell by treating him like one of the gang. Last I heard he had become a noted mathematician. I've got a class reunion coming up next year, so hopefully I'll see him there and find out what he's up to these days. ^_^
Andy Frobig 1 year ago
I know one person who says I was that guy. I went to one of the easiest four year schools in the US and dropped out in my third semester. I ended up an ok forklift driver and a bad saxophonist, now I'm 56 and live with my mother. The main thing that makes me still feel smart is that I know none of it is worth the effort
Kristal 1 year ago
I have no idea about anyone from high school but I know people didn't think I was smart then, other than some teachers that wrote "try harder" or some such. Now, being in a PhD program, people expect me to be smart and I'm like, goodness, I still have the math skills of a high schooler lol PhD is a very specific topic one researches, not a vast knowledge unless someone is genius level/incredible memory retention
Christof Irran 1 year ago
The smartest kid in my high school class is typing sh!t on Bored Panda; right now, even as we speak (type?) :-)
Wysteria_Rose 1 year ago
Smartest in my grade was my best friend, top of the class. She now teaches at our high school in a teeny tiny town. People would say that she really should have moved away, could have gone to a huge university, done more with herself, but I know her and she's happy teaching high school and living close to her family. I fully support and love her.
Leo Domitrix 1 year ago
Same for me. She's awesome doing what she did. :-)
Load More Replies... censorshipsucks 1 year ago (edited)
Guy I knew at school was a straight-A but ended up just being an after-school tutor. Could have done big things. But at least now he's stepping up again and going digital, which helps grow his business. Whereas I was a C- student mostly and I was the one that ended up with high academic achievements (publications, phd, etc), and I was the one that ended up in a high-powered job. Weird hey. Just shows that school marks don't mean that much.
Gardener of Weeden 1 year ago
But maybe he is happy. That is actually the true measure of success.
Load More Replies... DBear 1 year ago
Not sure if he was the smartest but he was definitely up there. Came into my store and asked if he could do any odd jobs for cash. Told me he was homeless. I couldn't do anything like that because of corporate policies but I gave a few bucks and I had helped him put in a job application. He failed the background check. Apparently, he had quite the criminal record. Was the last I saw of him.
David A Paterson 1 year ago
There was a smart kid in my high school? News to me. It was not a school known for the intelligence of its students.
Lia Joseph 1 year ago
The smartest kid in my H.S was a exchange student named Bjorn. Legally he was supposed to be in grade 8 but did grade nine and ten. Was super smart, super funny and the friendliest dude you could meet. He was killed when he was nineteen when his home got broken into. Tragic and awful
Montanavanna 1 year ago
This post made me wonder who was the smartest in my school. Probably this kid who got a perfect score on the SATs. No idea what he is doing but after the school found out we celebrated his achievement at a school pep rally. The school erupted in praise for him. It was a beautiful moment.
Cake 1 year ago
My friend was one of the smartest kids in school—straight A's without even trying. She ended up getting in with the wrong crowd, fell in love with a guy 15 years older than her, ended up addicted to heroin, and got pregnant at 17. Never graduated despite having dreams of going to college, suddenly went missing during senior year, and nobody knew where she went. 5 years later, we found out that she was involved in a crime ring, and was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison. After being released from prison, she ended up as a prostitute, nearly lost custody of her child, and was pregnant with her 2nd. Good thing was that, she eventually got her GED and was accepted into a college. After that, she fell in love with this guy (really nice. He treats her right), became a fashion designer, got married, and recently welcomed her 3rd child. Honestly, everyone kind of looked down on her back then for going down such a destructive path, but I'm happy for her and how she managed to turn her lif
Kiwii Stone 1 year ago
Got turned down from Oxford and Cambridge for 'not having enough extra curriculars' (translation: was a stuck up a**e who thought everyone and everything was below him). His friend who was lovey got in, lol
Gardener of Weeden 1 year ago
Some people who do not do extracurricular, are lovely people who have serious insecurities. I know a very very smart man, who's social anxiety stops him from participating in any group activities. But if you met him you would state that he was the nicest person you had ever met.
Load More Replies... Monday 1 year ago (edited)
If memory serves my year's smartest guy was the rugby team captain (yay for breaking athlete stereotypes). He was all set to go off to medical school after that last summer holiday but he ended up getting hit and killed by a taxi(minibus for you non SA folks). Ironically his last facebook post had been of a tombstone he found with his best friend's name on it.
Aub 1 year ago
We had covaledictorians my senior year, and while we haven't been out for that long, one is a youtuber growing at a steady rate who's in college for digital media to please his parents, and the other is a hairdresser at a local salon. I wasn't ever in the running for valedictorian, but I graduated 7th in my class, and most considered me one of the "smart kids", mainly because I was really good at explaining things in different ways to those who struggled. Now I'm in college to be a psychologist for neurodivergent and disabled kids. I want to give people the support that I never got myself.
Cosmologist wannabe 1 year ago
This is technically a story from a kid in my moms class. He was one of the weird kids and, he once almost electrocuted himself with a fork and a socket. Now he is a college prof and a leading string theorist. He was a triple major.
MLG Parrot 1 year ago
Well I was the smartest kid in my class (asperger) now I'm disabled at 19, I feel 91.
B-b-bird 1 year ago
"Crying because of A- "brought back memories about classmate. Exactly the same, cried over A- because it was "unfair" and was standing in his way to get into ivy league university on full tuition at age of 16. So he was genius I may say. Though, always grumpy and was taking badly any possibility of being ever wrong. In fact A- got corrected to A+ after a lot of begging and proving teacher wrong. Was working for worldwide known organizations as a researcher. Was in the middle of doing PHD and just straight up dropped studies, work and left to volunteer to some African country away from everything. Probably it was some sort of breakdown.
Happy crow dragon (they/any) 1 year ago
The smartes kid in my class is saying this: 4 suicide attempts before the start of 8th grade
Dawnieangel76 1 year ago
That was me. Gave up everything to take care of my family in various levels of physical & mental health. Now living in a s****y rented house with otherly-abled siblings and a thankfully bright & independent niece (raised her too) paying for everything, no vacations, no friends, no life.
Stay Off My Lawn 1 year ago
I like how this post shows the dark side of genius and the crushing weight of everyone else’s expectations.
Morgan entrikin 1 year ago
Those who referred to themselves as the smartest person in their school seemed very disillusioned to me
Bennett Hilton 1 year ago
I’m in high school on the smarter side (I’m in the highest math class and stuff like that) and I just hope none of that happens to me
Michelle C 1 year ago
I wouldn’t say I knew who the smartest was for sure, but one of them became a pastor and lives much further down south than where the school still is. Anyone who knew him knew he’d do something faith-based because he was certain of his calling young!
brandyy17 1 year ago
the smartest kid in my grade became a mental illness specialist. he helped ALOT of ppl. all who now live normal lives instead of being stuck in a psych ward. unfortunately he took on a patient that proved too difficult and the paitent stabbed him. from wat i heard he was stabbed in the neck and died on the way to the hospital. i went to his funeral and most of my graduating class and a few teachers were there. not only them tho. all 300 and something paitents who now live normal lives came too. he was a truly loved person. he tutored me in high school and i remember to this day he said during one of the tutoring sessions "wen we graduate i want to learn how to help ppl like u. only the ones with extreme cases who cant live normal lives. u r my inspiration." he apparently took an interest in the fact i have an anxeity disorder that prevented me from learning properly. on top of that i had adhd at the time too. if he was still alive id totally get him to b my doctor and immediately joke about how im worse now then i was then. its been a year since he passed. i still talk to his mom every now and then and she always thanks me for giving him a goal and cheering him on the whole way thru college and stuff. he managed to graduate with his phd and everything 3 years early bc of how motivated my cheering him on made him. it really is depressing. he was such a kind soul and a good friend
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
I believe the smartest kid from school was a girl, and I can't find where she's ended up. I suspect because she got married and changed her name. The second smartest wanted to be a doctor, and I believe he actually is a well regarded pediatrician now.
Katie Lutesinger 1 year ago
He was super smart, also nerdy and shy. Touchingly, the cool, popular guys never picked on him and helped him come out of his shell by treating him like one of the gang. Last I heard he had become a noted mathematician. I've got a class reunion coming up next year, so hopefully I'll see him there and find out what he's up to these days. ^_^
Andy Frobig 1 year ago
I know one person who says I was that guy. I went to one of the easiest four year schools in the US and dropped out in my third semester. I ended up an ok forklift driver and a bad saxophonist, now I'm 56 and live with my mother. The main thing that makes me still feel smart is that I know none of it is worth the effort
Kristal 1 year ago
I have no idea about anyone from high school but I know people didn't think I was smart then, other than some teachers that wrote "try harder" or some such. Now, being in a PhD program, people expect me to be smart and I'm like, goodness, I still have the math skills of a high schooler lol PhD is a very specific topic one researches, not a vast knowledge unless someone is genius level/incredible memory retention
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