I know a boy who despairs because his IQ isn’t as high as he’d like it to be. He thinks he’s doomed to failure. He thinks he’s stupid.
I heard in passing on NPR today (sorry, couldn’t tell you who said it or on which program) that IQ is not as good an indicator of academic success as discipline is. Someone who has a lower IQ and perseveres, gets his or her assignments done on time, and doesn’t put off studying ‘til the last minute is bound to do well. So, boys and girls, don’t let that IQ number get you down.
The reason I feel comfortable even discussing this without an adequate citation is that I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’ve seen people struggle and plug away at various disciplines and come out on top because they really apply themselves. Their success is hard-won, but it’s still success. I’ve also seen people with genius IQs fail miserably in the working world because they may know their stuff, but they are incapable of communicating with others.
I truly believe that it’s much more important to be well-rounded than it is to be at the top of some arbitrary scale. I’m much more impressed with someone who has a lot of life experience than I am with someone who is so high up in his ivory tower that he cannot see the landscape.
So live your life. Take advantage of any opportunity for a new experience that comes your way. And most of all, don’t let some number dictate who you are or who you can be.
[Image credit: capecodtoday.com]
The View from a Drawbridge 
I used to work for a rehabilitation center for a National Charity. One High School student had problems with time. It made it difficult finding someone to hire him, but we did. I moved on to other jobs. Six years later, while walking through a shopping center parking lot, A young man pulled up next to me in a Red Sports Car. He called me by name, and at first I could not recognize him. He told me his name and said he wanted to Thank me. I couldn’t figure out why, so he told me that when he was at the center I was so nice to him, when many others at school and every place else was not. But most of all telling him that if he “Showed up, worked hard and put his heart into his job, he would succeed.”
He told me he was a Manager, bought this car, was married, was buying a house and expecting their first child. So again he said Thank You for caring about me, and believing in me”.
When I hear others pick on someone with learning disabilities or low IQ, I remember Adam, who against all odds. Rose to the challenges of life and conquered them, and loved his life. And I would like to Thank the employer that took a chance on a low IQ high school student and guided him on his way. He is the true hero.
Wow, that’s an inspiring story. It’s times like these when I really think you should be writing a blog, Carole.
This is why I hate American Idol type shows… teaching kids that success is a contest you win in weeks, not a slog that lasts years.
Very good point.
I have those now and then
I have known some high IQ people who wouldn’t be able to do much of anything, because they had no common sense to go with that high IQ. So I am with you on this one. IQ is an antiquated way of judging people. It’s not very accurate.
And common sense isn’t always very common.