paul krugman can suck it.

[hub_potato]

I cried in the Econ exam today.

If I were doing 1000% shitty, I could live with that, but I'm stuck in that kind of liminal space where I'm not doing great but not doing poorly either, and that is way more frustrating than if I were just straightup failing, because I'm so close but somehow Still. Not. Getting. It. Every time I think I understand

Comments

[anonymous]

the way i've come to see it is that "gifted" people interpret the "gifted" label as applying only to what comes easiest to them, i.e. writing papers, in your case. when you've internalized that writing and "memorizing shit" are the things (and only things) you're really good at, it creates a block on your conception of yourself as a thinker. it requires a certain leap to even be able to start to think like an economist, mathematician, biologist, etc. the fact that school comes easy (even at the college level) doesn't mean that it's necessarily working your brain in the right way.

[hub_potato]

i don't know if this is supposed to make me feel better or worse about myself, but i do agree with you. i've always wondered if i'm just naturally not as talented at math/the social sciences or if i've somehow convinced myself that i'm not good at it and now i can't bring myself out of that, so to speak. i think this is pretty common in girls...

[anonymous]

it's not a better/worse thing, just a different perspective. another way to think about it is: "i'm always going to be interested in history/literature/philosophy and will be studying these things for the rest of my life no matter what i do now or where life takes me. but this is the only time that i'm going to be able to really develop a sound knowledge of math/economics/life sciences and have teachers who are willing to help me learn." btw i hope i don't sound altruistic or wise-beyond-my-years - these are all insights that i picked up from friends.

[hub_potato]

you don't sound wise-beyond-your-years or anything like that...just, i don't know. if you are who i think you are (and i can never tell with these anonymous comments) i really do wish i was enjoying the same kind of experiences you said you were having with whatever class it was you were taking (bio?) it's not that i'm not excited to be taking economics, and i really hope it doesn't seem like i was bitching or inviting everyone to my pity party or anything like that--i really was just tired and frustrated. i'm better now. i just keep telling myself to do it for paul krugman.

ps., also if you are who i think you are--i am going to a '90s-themed party at a sorority house tonight (funnnn) so i apologize in advanced for any misspelled mass texts you may receive.

[4o5pastmidnight]

And honestly, after all these years I don't see that much of a profound difference between "gifted" kids and the rest of the population anyway.

SO TRUE. When I was in elementary school I was in gifted and talented, and by the end of high school almost all the kids who were in it were total slackers who had a hard time in school. The problem? We were basically told we never needed to study and we were really smart. So, uh, I never learned how to study, and it came back to bite me in the ass many times.