As children, school can feel like everything. For years, students spend time with the same friends, following routines and seeing familiar faces daily. However, after graduation, everyone moves on, and their futures can go in various directions. Recently, people on Reddit shared stories about the bright students from their schools. Some achieved expected success, while others took unexpected paths. Here are some examples of what happened to those smart kids.
One individual became a Supreme Court justice, while another, who used to be married to the justice, described him negatively.
Another person noted that a former classmate earned a PhD in psychology and wrote several papers on the topic of forced perfectionism in children. This classmate was always recognized for her intelligence but faced pressure from parents to excel in every activity, including clubs, sports, and volunteer work. Many were unaware of the challenges she dealt with at home.
One former student, who excelled in both high school and college, shared their experience of being in the top 1-2% of their class. They achieved high grades and learned to navigate school effectively. However, they found that real-world problems were much more complicated. They struggled to adjust to the open-ended nature of work, feeling overwhelmed and unemployed due to difficulties with workplace dynamics.
Another individual reflected on their high school experience, mentioning many bright students, some from affluent backgrounds. A few notable classmates attended prestigious universities and went on to successful careers, such as an oncologist after studying at Yale and Columbia, and a trial attorney who attended Harvard and Stanford. Despite dropping out of college during the financial crisis and facing various jobs, this individual felt content with their life, becoming a business owner and feeling grateful, even though they believed they were less successful than their classmates.
What do you think about these stories of former smart students?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Rūta Zumbrickaitė