Genius Mind

Hey everyone, I've been lurking and reading through a few threads on this subforum, so I figured it was finally time to chime in myself 🙂

To give you a bit of a rundown, I'm 21, working, high school diploma...

Throughout my entire life, I’ve always had people telling me how smart I am, yet how I’ll never actually do anything with it; I can still vividly picture my old teacher from the physics department back in middle school saying, "...it's such a shame about that brain of yours, because if you just applied yourself even a little bit, you'd be a PhD by now." I guess the whole PhD thing was just a metaphor, but I'll never forget her... she was always telling me, just a little more effort, just study a tiny bit harder, and back then I honestly thought my parents had bribed her just to make sure I got into a decent high school 😵, but it turned out to be the exact same story in high school, where a teacher from the American language department used the same lines, trying to "steer" me toward the right path; I remember one class specifically when I was texting on my phone while calling out answers, and she just snapped, stood up and started yelling at the entire class, telling me to wait for her after the bell—she was screaming at everyone because they were all sitting there clueless while I was just distracted by my phone, even though I knew the answers...

After class, she gave me another lecture about my potential and how much of an idiot I'd be if I just settled for a high school diploma, which, honestly, hasn't changed one bit to this day
.

To recap things a little, throughout my whole education, I never really felt a connection to books—it always felt like such a chore—but I never once worried about my future, because deep down I know something big is waiting for me; I don't know what that "something" is yet, but I know it's coming...

I've always had this internal conviction that I'm the type of person who will change the world; I have no idea how that'll happen, obviously, but I hope it leads to something better rather than something worse 😁

So now I'm wondering, is this just "youthful naivety," this constant hoping for something better, or
Have any of you ever struggled with these kinds of questions about yourselves, or did you all just move through life following a pre-set plan?

I have so many questions swirling around, but I can never quite find the right words to pin them down; I see myself as a significant individual, the kind that's becoming increasingly rare these days, and I say that without a shred of egoism, since my ego is actually quite small...

Best,

It’s almost like I’m reading my own life story here, except for the parts about conquering and reshaping the world.

Look, speaking from raw experience, let me give you this one bit of advice: study. Learn for yourself, not because someone else is breathing down your neck to do it.

Back when I was your age, I was the exact same way—I dodged books like the plague and tried to find every possible shortcut through life. Luckily, I ended up picking a solid trade in high school that actually pays the bills now.
If I had actually listened to the older folks who kept nagging me to "reach my full potential," I probably would've achieved way more than I did.

The truth is, I’m still a student today. To be honest, what really lit the fire under me was someone incredibly special to me. Being around them made me realize just how much general knowledge I was missing—stuff I either skipped over or completely blanked on during my school years.

In a pretty short amount of time since then, I’ve knocked out foreign language courses, discovered so many places and things I never even knew existed, and I’m finally diving into the classics I should have read a lifetime ago.
Don't get me wrong, I'm pulling about 10-hour shifts most days and working weekends too, so finding time to hit the books isn't exactly easy.
I’m old enough that, age-wise, I could practically be your father.

Whether you take my advice to heart—to keep learning and keep growing—is entirely up to you.

First things first: books aren't everything. The older generation—and honestly, most academics—tend to act like formal schooling is the only path to success if you consider yourself "smart." Look, I’m a highly educated woman myself 😁, and I am telling you right now: I don't buy it. Don't let yourself subconsciously build up these complexes or insecurities just because you aren't following that specific track if it isn't what you actually want to do.

Second, and way more important: regardless of the first point, you won't achieve a damn thing in this world without putting in the work. Sure, Mozart was a genius, but if he hadn't spent every waking hour composing and playing, he wouldn't have written any of those masterpieces (obviously, being a genius meant it came easier to him than it would to me, but the principle is exactly the same). Of course, the real trick is directing that effort toward something that actually feels worth it to you... whether that's "saving the world" or just obsessing over rock climbing because it makes you happy.
So, the big takeaway here is to find your own motivation, find your direction, and actually grind for it. Because nothing is just "waiting" for you to show up... believing that is just pure youthful delusion 😁. People use that excuse all the time to mask laziness or total inaction, and if you let that mindset take root, it spreads like cancer. The longer you wait to deal with it, the harder it gets to fix. Unfortunately, I've seen plenty of incredibly talented, high-potential people fall into this trap. And all they're left with is bitterness and regret because deep down, they know they could have done so much more.

Just so we are crystal clear and there's no confusion: when I say someone is "high potential" or "could have done more," I'm not talking about grades, money, or social status. I mean that a person works toward and achieves what *they* personally find meaningful and fulfilling, no matter what anyone else thinks about it. A good friend of mine, a doctor, finished med school just to please her parents, and then she ended up moving to Denmark to pick apples before eventually opening a bar with her husband. She is freaking thrilled with her life. To me, that is success—a hundred times more real than staying a respected, miserable doctor.

Sure, life isn't just about textbooks, school, or how much cash you have in the bank...

We see plenty of examples right here in the States: guys like John McAfee, Luka Rajić, or Pevec. And don't even get me started on the smugglers and dealers out there...

It really all comes down to what you actually want to be successful at. At the end of the day, it’s about your own drive, not someone else's. You don't just wake up as "somebody" because someone else pressured you into it.
You become somebody because you actually want to be.
But let's be real—it takes actual sweat and effort.
If you're just dreaming about success and wishing for it without putting in the work, it's nothing more than a daydream.

Sam Cooper2 said:Hey everyone, I've been lurking and reading through a few threads on this subforum, so I figured it was finally time to chime in myself 🙂

To give you a bit of a rundown, I'm 21, working, high school diploma...

Throughout my entire life, I’ve always had people telling me how smart I am, yet how I’ll never actually do anything with it; I can still vividly picture my old teacher from the physics department back in middle school saying, "...it's such a shame about that brain of yours, because if you just applied yourself even a little bit, you'd be a PhD by now." I guess the whole PhD thing was just a metaphor, but I'll never forget her... she was always telling me, just a little more effort, just study a tiny bit harder, and back then I honestly thought my parents had bribed her just to make sure I got into a decent high school 😵, but it turned out to be the exact same story in high school, where a teacher from the American language department used the same lines, trying to "steer" me toward the right path; I remember one class specifically when I was texting on my phone while calling out answers, and she just snapped, stood up and started yelling at the entire class, telling me to wait for her after the bell—she was screaming at everyone because they were all sitting there clueless while I was just distracted by my phone, even though I knew the answers...

After class, she gave me another lecture about my potential and how much of an idiot I'd be if I just settled for a high school diploma, which, honestly, hasn't changed one bit to this day
.

To recap things a little, throughout my whole education, I never really felt a connection to books—it always felt like such a chore—but I never once worried about my future, because deep down I know something big is waiting for me; I don't know what that "something" is yet, but I know it's coming...

I've always had this internal conviction that I'm the type of person who will change the world; I have no idea how that'll happen, obviously, but I hope it leads to something better rather than something worse 😁

So now I'm wondering, is this just "youthful naivety," this constant hoping for something better, or
Have any of you ever struggled with these kinds of questions about yourselves, or did you all just move through life following a pre-set plan?

I have so many questions swirling around, but I can never quite find the right words to pin them down; I see myself as a significant individual, the kind that's becoming increasingly rare these days, and I say that without a shred of egoism, since my ego is actually quite small...

Best,

Nothing big is waiting for you.
Get into college while you still have the chance.
Period.

quietnomad13 said:It’s almost like I’m reading my own life story here, except for the parts about conquering and reshaping the world.

Look, speaking from raw experience, let me give you this one bit of advice: study. Learn for yourself, not because someone else is breathing down your neck to do it.

Back when I was your age, I was the exact same way—I dodged books like the plague and tried to find every possible shortcut through life. Luckily, I ended up picking a solid trade in high school that actually pays the bills now.
If I had actually listened to the older folks who kept nagging me to "reach my full potential," I probably would've achieved way more than I did.

The truth is, I’m still a student today. To be honest, what really lit the fire under me was someone incredibly special to me. Being around them made me realize just how much general knowledge I was missing—stuff I either skipped over or completely blanked on during my school years.

In a pretty short amount of time since then, I’ve knocked out foreign language courses, discovered so many places and things I never even knew existed, and I’m finally diving into the classics I should have read a lifetime ago.
Don't get me wrong, I'm pulling about 10-hour shifts most days and working weekends too, so finding time to hit the books isn't exactly easy.
I’m old enough that, age-wise, I could practically be your father.

Whether you take my advice to heart—to keep learning and keep growing—is entirely up to you.

👍 .. here is a starting point Philosophy of Science 🙂

To be honest, books have always been somewhat tedious to me... my primary sources of knowledge have always been people. Questioning others, questioning oneself... constant re-evaluation and observation. Reading has always felt like a final resort to me—perhaps a pessimistic way to learn, if I may say so—where I feel one should either read a book or simply experiment. I find myself constantly questioning everything. 😉

Now, I don't mean to advertise my own limitations here; I suppose I do regret not reading everything within my reach, as it certainly wouldn't have hurt. But as I mentioned... it just isn't my style. 😬 Subjectively speaking, I believe I am utilizing my potential quite well, and I am satisfied with my particular "path," though of course, there is no end in sight. One might call it a sort of greed for knowledge and experience. 👋

One of the first channels that really caught my eye was Khan Academy .. just pick a field that interests you... whatever you desire... and study. 👍

In the past, access to education and information was reserved for the privileged few. Now, before they manage to privatize the internet and all of human history along with its collective wisdom, take advantage of the opportunity. And don't forget future generations; just as those before you enabled you to access all their knowledge—regardless of how questionable it might be—future generations will look back and question it all as well. That is the very essence of science and discovery. Don't forget that. 🧐

Look, I’m telling you, your ego isn't small—you actually have more of it than you realize. If that weren't true, you wouldn't even be obsessing over this question or thinking about yourself this much, even if it was just on a smaller scale. We live in an era where there are true geniuses everywhere. There always have been, but back in the day, information wasn't easy to get, so people didn't know they existed. Now? Information is everywhere. Anyone who actually wants to level up can become what you are. And you're doing the work too. You're working toward being a complete person, not just a "big" one. That’s what real ego is. It doesn't matter if the lady next door or half the planet notices your progress. Change is change. Work is work. Honestly, we're usually way more productive when we aren't slaves to the end result.

Sam Cooper2 said:Hey everyone, I've been lurking and reading through a few threads on this subforum, so I figured it was finally time to chime in myself 🙂

To give you a bit of a rundown, I'm 21, working, high school diploma...

Throughout my entire life, I’ve always had people telling me how smart I am, yet how I’ll never actually do anything with it; I can still vividly picture my old teacher from the physics department back in middle school saying, "...it's such a shame about that brain of yours, because if you just applied yourself even a little bit, you'd be a PhD by now." I guess the whole PhD thing was just a metaphor, but I'll never forget her... she was always telling me, just a little more effort, just study a tiny bit harder, and back then I honestly thought my parents had bribed her just to make sure I got into a decent high school 😵, but it turned out to be the exact same story in high school, where a teacher from the American language department used the same lines, trying to "steer" me toward the right path; I remember one class specifically when I was texting on my phone while calling out answers, and she just snapped, stood up and started yelling at the entire class, telling me to wait for her after the bell—she was screaming at everyone because they were all sitting there clueless while I was just distracted by my phone, even though I knew the answers...

After class, she gave me another lecture about my potential and how much of an idiot I'd be if I just settled for a high school diploma, which, honestly, hasn't changed one bit to this day
.

To recap things a little, throughout my whole education, I never really felt a connection to books—it always felt like such a chore—but I never once worried about my future, because deep down I know something big is waiting for me; I don't know what that "something" is yet, but I know it's coming...

I've always had this internal conviction that I'm the type of person who will change the world; I have no idea how that'll happen, obviously, but I hope it leads to something better rather than something worse 😁

So now I'm wondering, is this just "youthful naivety," this constant hoping for something better, or
Have any of you ever struggled with these kinds of questions about yourselves, or did you all just move through life following a pre-set plan?

I have so many questions swirling around, but I can never quite find the right words to pin them down; I see myself as a significant individual, the kind that's becoming increasingly rare these days, and I say that without a shred of egoism, since my ego is actually quite small...

Best,

I believe you're intelligent, but it doesn't matter if you're lazy.
Maybe it would be better to step it up a notch now, so you aren't left looking back at your old days thinking, "I could have, but I didn't."

You’re doing way too much philosophizing just to cover up the fact that you're basically just bragging. It’s all empty talk if you haven't put in the actual blood and sweat—no grind, no results. 😉

Teachers and professors have a fundamental duty to actually motivate students to learn and put in the work! Just because some instructor told you a few years ago that you "have potential" doesn't mean a damn thing; honestly, you should forget about that as soon as possible and focus on yourself, right here and right now.

Let’s look at it this way: can you actually communicate in a foreign language? Is reading articles in English or German a struggle for you? Do you even know how to format footnotes in Microsoft Word? What about navigating Google Drive?
Do you know how to zoom in on an image or text on your monitor using just your keyboard?
And how much skepticism do you apply to the information being shoved down our throats by the media?
Do you even follow what’s happening domestically and globally? If you found yourself in a group discussing the causes of the crisis in Turkey, would you be able to contribute anything more than a half-baked, nonsensical comment?
Who started all the drama surrounding IBM's arrival in America, and what was their motivation? And what is the actual issue regarding our gas canisters?
Who are the historical figures of the American people and why do they matter? 😁

That’s just the starting point; after that, we can move on to things like navigating unfamiliar situations and so on...

I have a friend from high school who was practically a lost cause—negligent, a total fool, unemployed, had nothing... then something happened and he snapped out of it. He moved away, cut ties with his old crowd, enrolled in a few courses, started working, and worked himself to the bone. Fast forward twenty years, and he owns his own company and is doing incredibly well! He has the exact same high school diploma as you, but based on talking to him, you’d assume he holds several degrees.

Thanks to everyone for the replies; I was half-expecting a few targeted attacks here and there, but nothing too heavy-handed...

First off, I’ll say it again because I’ve spent enough time rubbing elbows with self-proclaimed "geniuses" to know better: a formal education is absolutely no guarantee that someone actually possesses a "Great Mind." I agree with all of you that continuous learning is what really matters, because if a person isn't constantly absorbing new information and evolving every single day they're just a limited individual.

Art was never really my thing—honestly, I was pretty terrible at it back in middle school—but nowadays I can hold my own reading about Leonardo da Vinci and the other greats...

To address the questions from wiredseal2:

I speak English daily with customers, just a few sentences here and there, so reading and grasping these kinds of articles isn't an issue for me; as for German, I’ve been pushing through it since I was eighteen, though the language is just plain ugly 😁

Do you perhaps need a seminar on how to write or how to manage some spreadsheets in Excel?
Every twenty-one-year-old kid these days should probably have a handle on the basics of Microsoft Word and Office, if not a bit more than that.

I even know how to use the "undo" command :P
Do you remember that song, CTRL + ())
And Google Drive is a decent tool, I suppose, but I don't really need it; I'm not the type of person who needs to keep a hundred different photos scattered across a hundred different locations 🙂

I’m not one of those naive types who takes the tabloid press too seriously; to me, they’re just regular people doing their jobs, which involves "manipulating" information so they can "manipulate" us, though I get where they're coming from in a way—the end justifies the means, after all.

I keep an eye on global affairs and things happening here in the States, though not too closely; I’ve never been fond of commenting much on social events. Regarding Turkey and Erdogan, I’d say he’s turned Turkey into a genuine superpower; from what I’ve read and what I recall, they don't even have a single foreign bank operating in the country, and the standard of living has risen significantly under his rule. However, this supposed "Islamization" of Turkey is something that shouldn't be allowed in the 21st century, but then again, I completely understand his perspective when you consider the kind of nauseating statements the future president Trump makes... it feels like something bad is brewing for all of us.

Over 200,000 bottles haven't even been certified, yet a massive number of them are sold every single day.

I’ve read a little bit about IBM, and I know there's a lot of arguing over who brought them in and who didn't, but I haven't delved too deep into that...

I'd say the Smith brothers, since they helped the Republican Party grab all the power :P

Just kidding... if I'm not mistaken, the Radić brothers are the ones ringing in my head...

👍

There’s this thing called megalomania—basically just an inflated sense of your own importance. History is full of megalomaniacs (yeah, even that one infamous Austrian guy everyone talks about), but it’s not just limited to historical figures; regular people fall into this trap too. There’s a massive difference between being self-aware enough to know you aren't some limitless being, and actually believing you're some "genius" destined to "change the world." Recognizing your limits is healthy and honestly pretty necessary, but thinking you're the savior of humanity? That’s bordering on delusional. Let history and everyone else decide if you actually achieve greatness. Your only real job is to focus on being a better version of yourself and constantly outdoing who you were yesterday.

So, I’ve got this absolute genius in my family—my uncle... I mean, the guy was a wizard at physics, chemistry, biology... straight A student back in high school... Man, he even used to play chess against Kasparov, just incredibly sharp, really quick on his feet... Then he gets into a top-tier pre-med program, totally bombs it, and ends up switching over to education... He barely scraped through, mostly because he just couldn't deal with the administrative side of things... Like, signing up for exams, chasing down signatures... It just wasn't his vibe, I guess...

He spent his whole career teaching out in some tiny rural town 12 miles far away from any major hub, you know? He could never quite land a gig in a big city like Chicago or something... Such a shame, really...

Pretty much an unsuccessful guy, if I'm being honest 🤷

Sam Cooper2 said:Hey everyone, I've been lurking and reading through a few threads on this subforum, so I figured it was finally time to chime in myself 🙂

To give you a bit of a rundown, I'm 21, working, high school diploma...

Throughout my entire life, I’ve always had people telling me how smart I am, yet how I’ll never actually do anything with it; I can still vividly picture my old teacher from the physics department back in middle school saying, "...it's such a shame about that brain of yours, because if you just applied yourself even a little bit, you'd be a PhD by now." I guess the whole PhD thing was just a metaphor, but I'll never forget her... she was always telling me, just a little more effort, just study a tiny bit harder, and back then I honestly thought my parents had bribed her just to make sure I got into a decent high school 😵, but it turned out to be the exact same story in high school, where a teacher from the American language department used the same lines, trying to "steer" me toward the right path; I remember one class specifically when I was texting on my phone while calling out answers, and she just snapped, stood up and started yelling at the entire class, telling me to wait for her after the bell—she was screaming at everyone because they were all sitting there clueless while I was just distracted by my phone, even though I knew the answers...

After class, she gave me another lecture about my potential and how much of an idiot I'd be if I just settled for a high school diploma, which, honestly, hasn't changed one bit to this day
.

To recap things a little, throughout my whole education, I never really felt a connection to books—it always felt like such a chore—but I never once worried about my future, because deep down I know something big is waiting for me; I don't know what that "something" is yet, but I know it's coming...

I've always had this internal conviction that I'm the type of person who will change the world; I have no idea how that'll happen, obviously, but I hope it leads to something better rather than something worse 😁

So now I'm wondering, is this just "youthful naivety," this constant hoping for something better, or
Have any of you ever struggled with these kinds of questions about yourselves, or did you all just move through life following a pre-set plan?

I have so many questions swirling around, but I can never quite find the right words to pin them down; I see myself as a significant individual, the kind that's becoming increasingly rare these days, and I say that without a shred of egoism, since my ego is actually quite small...

Best,

It seems like those little stories about how "special" you are have really taken root, haven't they? Based on the feedback you've received from a few people in your life, it’s pretty clear that your claim isn't holding much water!
You’re definitely a small person with a massive ego, but since you're still so young and immature, I honestly think there's still a real chance for you to turn things around.

It honestly feels like I personally know more people who have been labeled "special" or "exceptional" at some point in their lives than those who haven't. I'm talking about the ones who were constantly singled out and praised by their professors in high school or through college. It doesn't even matter what field they were in—whether it was athletics, the hard sciences, social studies, or linguistics—there always seems to be that group of people who were recognized as standout talents early on!
They’re nowhere to be found today. It seems they’ve become so accustomed to constant praise that they’ve completely lost their drive to actually perform. It’s such a shame to watch—all that raw talent just goes to waste because of complacency, leaving people to settle into being nothing more than totally average, or even below-average, citizens of this planet.
It’s a sad reality, but that's just how things are.

Joshua Garcia56 said:It seems like those little stories about how "special" you are have really taken root, haven't they? Based on the feedback you've received from a few people in your life, it’s pretty clear that your claim isn't holding much water!
You’re definitely a small person with a massive ego, but since you're still so young and immature, I honestly think there's still a real chance for you to turn things around.

It honestly feels like I personally know more people who have been labeled "special" or "exceptional" at some point in their lives than those who haven't. I'm talking about the ones who were constantly singled out and praised by their professors in high school or through college. It doesn't even matter what field they were in—whether it was athletics, the hard sciences, social studies, or linguistics—there always seems to be that group of people who were recognized as standout talents early on!
They’re nowhere to be found today. It seems they’ve become so accustomed to constant praise that they’ve completely lost their drive to actually perform. It’s such a shame to watch—all that raw talent just goes to waste because of complacency, leaving people to settle into being nothing more than totally average, or even below-average, citizens of this planet.
It’s a sad reality, but that's just how things are.

The truth is, even older folks have the potential to change... age isn't really the deciding factor here..

My own father is significantly less mature than most people I encounter, and he's already seventy 😵 ... honestly, I find it hard to believe he's even still around, let alone managed to raise children (myself included) 🤣

Just ignore all that empty rhetoric and the whole Carpe Diem thing... though, I suppose she was right, and it is a fitting username! 👍

Trump’s got that whole 'messiah complex' thing going on. I think there's actually a technical term for it somewhere.

It's almost too perfect. 😁

Lawrence Bailey77 said:The truth is, even older folks have the potential to change... age isn't really the deciding factor here..

My own father is significantly less mature than most people I encounter, and he's already seventy 😵 ... honestly, I find it hard to believe he's even still around, let alone managed to raise children (myself included) 🤣

Just ignore all that empty rhetoric and the whole Carpe Diem thing... though, I suppose she was right, and it is a fitting username! 👍

Gonna veer off-topic for just a sec—thanks, thanks! 🙂

The idea that humans possess some massive, inherent intellect... seriously? Give me a break.

It’s honestly laughable, though deeply pathetic.

Alexander Thompson said:So, I’ve got this absolute genius in my family—my uncle... I mean, the guy was a wizard at physics, chemistry, biology... straight A student back in high school... Man, he even used to play chess against Kasparov, just incredibly sharp, really quick on his feet... Then he gets into a top-tier pre-med program, totally bombs it, and ends up switching over to education... He barely scraped through, mostly because he just couldn't deal with the administrative side of things... Like, signing up for exams, chasing down signatures... It just wasn't his vibe, I guess...

He spent his whole career teaching out in some tiny rural town 12 miles far away from any major hub, you know? He could never quite land a gig in a big city like Chicago or something... Such a shame, really...

Pretty much an unsuccessful guy, if I'm being honest 🤷

Why unsuccessful?
Maybe he actually enjoys that kind of work. Maybe he never had the drive or the ambition to go down any other path. And why is it bad that a man found work at a rural school? Perhaps he truly found his calling in teaching.
We once had a music teacher who was incredibly gifted—a literal musical genius—but he struggled with schizophrenia. Everyone wondered why someone so talented was working in a local school. He just told them straight up that he loves the job and loves teaching.

To the OP: you’re still young, green, and inexperienced. Focus on what you’re good at and what actually interests you, but don't keep your head stuck in the clouds. I hate to burst your bubble, but you aren't anything special, no grand persona. Not you, not me, not anyone else. Except maybe Tesla 🐔😁 What I mean is, at the end of the day, raw knowledge isn't everything; it's about how you apply your own potential in a positive direction. For yourself and for others. You can't change the entire world. You can change yourself, grow, gain experience, think, draw conclusions, and let those things lead to progress. If you want to see change, look at your own immediate surroundings. Pick a realistic goal, and if you want to make a difference, help someone using the skills and experience you have. For instance, you could get involved in your local community and volunteer.

Old soul, Indigo...