why I didn't experience gifted kid burnout
Gifted Kid Burnout: all my self worth was placed on being intelligent, and now I can’t function in the real world.
This is yet another thing where I feel like I should relate, but I don’t.
The pieces of it are relatable.
Gifted Kid- I don’t think I was ever called this specifically, but I was a smart kid.
Burnout- I have burnout all the time. I run myself into the ground like it’s nobody’s business.
But together? Gifted kid burnout? Never experienced that at all.
Part of it might be the fact that I still think I’m smart.
I mean why shouldn’t I? I haven’t lost any of the skills that constituted my idea of intelligence, even though it’s been years since someone has said ‘oh wow, you’re so smart!’
I still have my keen memory, my eagle eyed perception and observation, my pattern recognition, my problem solving, my clear and concise writing style, my open mindedness, my ability to listen, my creativity, my reading comprehension, my understanding of human differences, etc.
I probably have a better awareness of what intelligence actually is, but it's not like all these skills up and left once I was no longer a student.
The other part of it is that I have some sort of work ethic and discipline.
I paid attention in the classroom. I was present, actively listening. I did the work. I was aware of what I didn’t understand. And I think people underestimate how much of a difference just going through the motions of being a student actually aids understanding. But I never did, and I still rely on that training now.
People called me intelligent, but I think the better word is sensible, since that sense was what made and still makes all the difference.
~nan