We're More Than Just Good Grades
Back in New Jersey, when people heard that I went to High Technology High School, most would immediately make assumptions and deem me a “genius.” It happened so frequently that upon encountering and meeting new people I came to expect this occurrence and prepare what to say. “I wouldn’t consider myself a genius but,” or, “I’m smart but I wouldn’t consider myself a genius.” Naturally, they would cut me off or respond with something along the lines of “It’s ok, you don’t have to say it. I know you are.” This, I never came to expect and never had anything to say. Slightly disappointed, I would pause and then drop the conversation to find something else to focus on. Can’t think of a time when that didn’t happen.
It was that burst of confident ignorance and their disregard for what I said that bothered me. Because people had that idea in their head that I was a genius, they would not allow me to say otherwise. There were three ways in which people heard a single story and applied it to the entire school: the name of the school suggested it to them, they were aware of the rankings of the high school, or they knew a smart someone who went to the school or to a similar high school and associated the school with the smart person. What I had always wanted to say next, but never had the courage to say, was all of the things that make me more than a genius; the things that make all of the people at my school more than just geniuses. Sure, some of the people at that school are among the smartest in the state, possibly even the country. But for every single person at that school, there was more to them and their personality and their character than their intelligence alone.
It might come off as weird, maybe even ridiculous, that being called or thought of as a genius bothered me. So many people have even told me (sarcastically, hopefully) that they would pay or kill to be as smart as I am. Truthfully, it was not that being called a genius bothered me; I just didn’t like that people showed no effort in wanting to know what else I was good at. None of them would learn that I could have played college soccer at a high level. None of them would figure out how respectful and compassionate I am. None of them would discern that I had valuable personal experiences, stories unique to me. I have good grades, I excel in math, am fascinated by science, and appreciate and understand technology, but I’m not just a nerd. Good grades and SAT scores are the tip of the iceberg. I am not just a genius; I am a person.
Sadly, this did not just happen to me; it happened to many of my friends and probably happens to every student currently at the high school. Our school was not just commended for its SAT and AP scores, college readiness and retention rate; we also had esteemed competitors in many different competitions that won at state and sometimes national levels. Bio League, Chem League, Physics League, Calc League, Technology Student Association, national math competitions, etc. We did not just engage in research or learn computer coding or create robots. We had athletes of all kinds: one girl is running at Dartmouth, one guy is on a full ride to Stanford for gymnastics and was the first alternate in the most recent summer Olympics, one student is the starting quarterback for the best high school football team in New Jersey, another girl is rowing at Lehigh. Some are members of bands who play at celebrity weddings. Some, myself included, are trying to become involved in social work. We even had a couple stand up comedians. For the record, not everyone at my high school was a genius. Some got in by working hard or getting lucky or barely getting by. Others were just smart but not to the level of a genius. The point is that not everyone at my high school was as smart as people perceived us to be. Some people were simply geniuses, for sure; but, honestly, some people were less than genius; most importantly, most of my fellow students were more. Every single person was a person of interest.
At college now, in a state where people are unaware of what High Technology High School is, I can introduce myself to people in a different way. It’s nice not to be asked what high school I went to, but rather what state I’m from. I at least get a chance afterwards to talk about SERVE and engineering so that people get a better idea of me. Whether or not I get stereotyped based on my state, major, and LLC, it is better than only being stereotyped by one single thing; one single story.