ADVERTISEMENT

Article created by: Mindaugas Balčiauskas

Sometimes you get hit by a wave of curiosity, wondering where that one person from school is now. Social media has done wonders to allow us to keep in touch, even when we maybe would prefer to keep our distance, but sometimes it can be interesting to hear others’ experiences. 

A netizen wanted to hear others’ stories about where the “smart kid” from school ended up after everyone graduated. From brilliant careers, and weird turns to tragedy, the internet delivered, so prepare to sift through a multitude of human experiences, be sure to upvote your favorites and comment your own tales below. We also got in touch with therapist and neuroscientist Bobbi Banks to learn more. 

More info: Bobbi Banks | Instagram

#1

Man with glasses wearing a suit reviewing documents on a couch, illustrating the smartest kid in their class concept. He went to Harvard Law School then moved back and created a startup that helps make healthcare accessible in disadvantaged communities. Was a great guy then and great guy now.

Strict_Bar_4915 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

RELATED:
    #2

    Man and young girl playing with educational toys on the floor in a bright room, highlighting the smartest kid in their class. That was me. I'm now a stay-at-home dad of four wonderful kids and in a loving, sixteen year marriage. My wife is my best friend. While I may not have reached my full potential academically, I'm happy. Very happy. I realized that life is too short to care about anything other than living my life the way that I want to, not the way that I'm expected to.

    MielikkisChosen , Tatiana Syrikova Report

    #3

    Scientists in protective suits working on a large hexagonal mirror array in a high-tech laboratory, symbolizing the smartest kid in class. Smartest guy from my high school became an actual rocket scientist.

    TheKaptinKirk , Pixabay Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #4

    Family outdoors playing with a child, illustrating moments shared about the smartest kid in their class experiences. Dropped out of college to marry and support the much younger woman he got pregnant. Now (30 years later) owns a boardgame store with a large back room for mini painting and games and plays dad to half the neurodivergent kids in town. Still married to the same woman too. It's not a high flying life but he makes a difference to so many people. 
    To make y'all feel better: He was 23 I think and she was 18, a big age gap when you're young. It was also in the Netherlands, were at least at the time (I've been gone a while) we didn't really care so much as long as it wasn't a 10 year difference or one of them was under 15. Teenagers have desires, it happens.

    Yinnesha , Gustavo Fring Report

    #5

    Surgeons in blue scrubs and masks performing surgery, illustrating a story about the smartest kid in class. Superstar pediatric neurosurgeon. Most confident person I’ve ever met. (Guess you’d have to be, to cut open a little kid’s skull and operate on their brain.)

    Rainpickle , JAFAR AHMED Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Man presenting to a small audience, sharing stories about the smartest kid in their class in an educational setting. That was me! Or smartest as in best achieving academically. Went on to uni and studied history and a masters in medieval history, graduated both top of the class. Everyone expected me to do a PhD but I found academics too lonely and wanted to have a more social workplace so became a history teacher in high school instead and love it!

    Jealous-Proof5505 , fauxels Report

    #7

    Scientists in protective suits working in a lab, illustrating people sharing what happened to the smartest kid in class There were two. They were twins. They're both geneticists now with PHDs, and they work at the same university.

    iARTthere4iam , Pavel Danilyuk Report

    #8

    Person walking outside an Apple store, symbolizing stories about the smartest kid in their class shared by people. He went to MIT, works for Apple, and has a very expensive home in California. He also has a wife and 4 kids and seems to be very happy. I remember he was programming games in high school and was valedictorian. A big nerd who became a wealthy big nerd.

    BullHorn100 , zhang kaiyv Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    Young man sitting alone in an abandoned building, reflecting quietly, representing the smartest kid in their class story. Guy had 3 scholarship offers, lasted 1 year in uni before jumping off a building. Feel sorry for him and his family.

    ObscureAbsurdity , Download a pic Donate a buck! ^ Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #10

    Brain scans showing detailed cross-sections, symbolizing insights into the smartest kid in their class. Died from a brain tumour right after he graduated high school. He was dang smart. Could play the piano upside down too.

    crimesteak , cottonbro studio Report

    #11

    Space shuttle robotic arm in orbit above Earth, illustrating technology and intelligence related to smartest kid stories. He is currently an aerospace engineer who played a big role in the engineering of the Canadarm.

    ketchupforall , wikipedia Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #12

    Astronaut in a space suit outside a spacecraft with Earth in the background, illustrating what happened to the smartest kid. I believe he works for NASA. He deleted his Facebook a while ago (like the smartest kid in our class would do), but that’s what he was doing last I checked.

    gingeritis90 , Pixabay Report

    #13

    Man in a gray blazer sitting inside a yellow car, illustrating stories about the smartest kid in their class. He got his PhD in engineering, started his own company, and was a multimillionaire by 45.

    ratherBwarm , Ono Kosuki Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #14

    A large legislative chamber filled with people, illustrating discussions about the smartest kid in their class outcomes. Disappeared into a shadowy government job. *poof* gone.

    mostofyouarefools , Marco Oriolesi Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #15

    People working focused at computers in an office, representing stories about the smartest kid in their class. Crushed under the weight of expectations and mental illness he burned out and works call centers now instead of his full potential.

    scipio0421 Report

    #16

    Pregnant woman standing in front of wooden door, hands gently cradling baby bump, symbolizing new beginnings and growth. She married a religious fruitcake 12 years older than she was almost immediately after graduation and started pumping out kids. Never went to college. Has never had a job. Spends her days on Facebook shaming people for being sinners.

    Patricio_Guapo , Camylla Battani Report

    #17

    A person in a detailed robe standing inside a church, illustrating reflections on the smartest kid in their class. He was an idealist, became a priest and served in the Vatican, became disillusioned and left the church, got two masters degrees, and died by his own hand. He was a truly good person who couldn’t marry his ideals with the reality of the church.

    vyprrgirl , Oleksandr Canary Islands Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #18

    Person wearing gloves and a mask looking through a microscope in a lab, relating to the smartest kid in class concept. He moved to Poland and became a Molecular Biologist.

    AJCleary , Edward Jenner Report

    #19

    Woman smiling while looking at a digital tablet, illustrating stories of the smartest kid in their class shared online. She's a professor at Oxford University.

    MWH901 , Antoni Shkraba Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda