As soon as the clock hits 2:40 p.m, I spring up from my desk, rushing to get out of the school.
I am exhausted from a day full of tests and assignments I get mediocre grades on.
I am exhausted after spending a day overworking myself just to get another low B on my geometry test over proofs.
I am exhausted from putting so much energy into trying to reach high expectations that I just can’t meet.
Society places too much worth on traditional academic intelligence instead of other forms of intelligence.
My whole life, I’ve dedicated myself to relying on academic validation to have top-notch self-esteem. I’ve spent so much time getting down on myself, studying past my limits and sitting with my eyes locked on the giant red B- at the top of my math test — looking small next to the massive A+ on my friend’s paper with a smiley face next to it. I’ve based so much of my personal success on my grades in school. Every bad grade on a math or science test feels like moving down on the intelligence scale.
As young as age 10, I’ve felt that I’m simply just not smart enough at times.
But my mom always tells me that there are ways to be “smart” other than in traditional academics. Though I’ve always understood what she meant, I didn’t start to truly understand it until recently when I came across a study about intelligence by Howard Gardner.
His theory is that there are nine different types of intelligence and ways that each human processes data. These types of intelligence include Naturalistic, Musical, Logical–mathematical, Existential, Interpersonal, Linguistic, Bodily–kinaesthetic, Intra–personal and Spatial.
Each type is different, yet all are proof of intellect in human brains.
The more I researched, the more I finally understood the true meaning behind it. Each brain processes information differently. But Most of society is stuck in the idea that you are only considered smart if you are successful with certain fields, like math and science.
This intellectual neglect can create prominent insecurities for some — including me. Throughout elementary school I would lie about my standardized math test scores thinking that people would call me dumb if they saw my real scores.
The idea that you have to be intelligent in that specific way to be considered a smart person leaves others feeling like their talents don’t matter and aren’t as impressive as getting amazing test scores and being good with numbers and data.
Some of the smartest people I know are not “book smart.” I know people who can analyze a person’s facial expressions, body language and true personality in a minute. They can read a room before anyone speaks, but not all of them can master a complicated math equation — and this makes them less smart than the rest of society?
Influencer Emma Chamberlain has taught me so much about social dynamics and conflict handling with her podcast — she’s smart in a way that is more about people than numbers.
Listening to her speak about deep topics such as behavior, ignorance and temptation is educational to me, even if they’re not in school curriculums.
Some people have a unique outlook on life, nature and art. They see things differently than everyone else and are superior in certain topics — even if they aren’t the best standardized test-takers.
There is so much to learn about real world things that have nothing to do with critical academic-related knowledge. Society needs to be open to people with all types of intelligence.