That’s why I said that being considered smart out and among the masses isn’t really an indicator of your intelligence. I remember at my college orientation they asked the crowd to stand up first if they were first in their grade, then second, then top 10, and then top 15%. By the end almost everyone was standing. I’ll go on to say that that university has an 85% graduation rate. So right there we established that those that graduate, barring some non-educational issue or those who are intelligent enough but unable to attend, are likely in the top 10-20% when it comes to educational comparison.
Even then, these are poor metrics for being “smart.” There are a lot of ways to be smart, you can be book smart, you can be emotionally intelligent, you can be wise, and you can have common sense. If it’s not uncommon for people to say you are smart as part of conversation then you likely are subjectively, but objectively that says more about the people around you than it says about your objective intelligence. Something like 20% of American adults are functionally illiterate.
Reading your listed accomplishments I would say that you are smart, and having the intellectual maturity to recognize your strengths and weaknesses is another measure of intelligence.
Your comments have shown me that it’s a lot more of a nuanced topic than I think presents itself on surface evaluation. I generally have always viewed myself as average to below average. I’ve always struggled in formal structured education so my barometer was always, I’m a B/C level of intelligence. With that said, I have always been successful professionally with technology and in tinkering, hobbies, repairing already engineered or developed solutions/products. Originating stuff has pretty much always felt out of reach for me however, these folks that create the things that I can get working are inspiring but very humbling.
I remember when I used to think questions like “are you your, body, your brain, or both” were silly but the more I asked myself questions, provided answers, and challenged myself it got me to a place where a felt a confused ignorance.
I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and viewpoints.
That’s why I said that being considered smart out and among the masses isn’t really an indicator of your intelligence. I remember at my college orientation they asked the crowd to stand up first if they were first in their grade, then second, then top 10, and then top 15%. By the end almost everyone was standing. I’ll go on to say that that university has an 85% graduation rate. So right there we established that those that graduate, barring some non-educational issue or those who are intelligent enough but unable to attend, are likely in the top 10-20% when it comes to educational comparison.
Even then, these are poor metrics for being “smart.” There are a lot of ways to be smart, you can be book smart, you can be emotionally intelligent, you can be wise, and you can have common sense. If it’s not uncommon for people to say you are smart as part of conversation then you likely are subjectively, but objectively that says more about the people around you than it says about your objective intelligence. Something like 20% of American adults are functionally illiterate.
Reading your listed accomplishments I would say that you are smart, and having the intellectual maturity to recognize your strengths and weaknesses is another measure of intelligence.
Your comments have shown me that it’s a lot more of a nuanced topic than I think presents itself on surface evaluation. I generally have always viewed myself as average to below average. I’ve always struggled in formal structured education so my barometer was always, I’m a B/C level of intelligence. With that said, I have always been successful professionally with technology and in tinkering, hobbies, repairing already engineered or developed solutions/products. Originating stuff has pretty much always felt out of reach for me however, these folks that create the things that I can get working are inspiring but very humbling.
I remember when I used to think questions like “are you your, body, your brain, or both” were silly but the more I asked myself questions, provided answers, and challenged myself it got me to a place where a felt a confused ignorance.
I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and viewpoints.