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People Are Revealing Who Their High School’s “Smartest Kid” Turned Out To Be (35 Stories)
Long gone are the days when you have to go to reunions to learn what your former classmates are up to. All you need now is social media. Just log into Facebook, Instagram, or some other platform they're on and stalk away. Many share so much of their personal lives that it makes it quite easy.
So when Reddit user Desperate_Bluejay330 asked people "What happened to the smartest kid at your high school?", the replies immediately started pouring in, reminding us that you never really know what the future holds.
Continue scrolling to check out some of the most interesting stories, and don't miss the talk we had about looking back at your past with licensed clinical psychologist, Michael Stein, Psy.D.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
He does some kind of morbidity projections for a hospital in a major city in Europe. The reason I know this is because in April or May of 2020, he posted on Facebook asking someone to call him because he was afraid he was going to hurt himself. I literally hadn’t talked to this guy since probably 5th grade (we went to the same elementary school and then different middle schools. When we got to high school, he had skipped two grades. We weren’t really friends in high school). It was 9 or 10 at night where I live so probably about 4 am where he lived. It was late, and I was worried nobody would see his post. I couldn’t have lived with myself if he had done something and I hadn’t called. So I called him using Facebook messenger. He was drunk and thinking about jumping off his balcony. His whole job was predicting covid deaths, and the numbers he was coming up with were terrifyingly high (and accurate), but nobody was listening to him. We talked for a long time. We both cried some. It was the weirdest thing - I literally talked him off a ledge. He didn’t jump, and now he seems to be doing great. He quit drinking, got back into running, and got through the pandemic. I think of him often, which is weird considering we were never really what you’d call friends.
Ahimsa Soul 3 years ago
It must have been so overwhelming for him! I'm so glad you called him and listened when ne needed the most. And he is smart, he did ask for help when he needed.
Shannon Donnelly 3 years ago
You are amazing!! I can only imagine how grateful he was that you picked up the phone!! The world needs more people like you!! ((((Hugs))))
Peta Warren 3 years ago
You don't need to see each other or talk regularly to be a friend, you proved yourself as a trusted friend in a time of deep need. Covid has taken a terrible toll and we need to continue to support others in the aftermath.
Stein, who runs a team of therapists in Colorado called Anxiety Solutions of Denver, thinks the main motivation that drives us to check up on our past acquaintances is simply comparison.
"People love to compare their own accomplishments to those of others, for better or worse," he told Bored Panda. "That's not necessarily a healthy thing, but it's something a lot of people feel compelled to do. It can feel good to know that your career or relationship status compares favorably to others, but of course that can run the other way as well; it can hurt to see that you have not progressed in life as much as your peers."
"I think the other biggest reason though is just curiosity. People have their set impressions of what their classmates were like in high school and they're curious to know if those classmates turned out how they thought they would. And then a final reason I would say is gossip! People love talking about people, and it can be entertaining to share what you found out, especially if you find something funny about a former acquaintance," Stein explained.
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#2
He became an astronaut, a doctor, AND a Navy seal. And was even nice in high school. Disgusting.
David H 3 years ago
And still his parent's are disappointed in him for underachieving /s
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Althea Whyte 3 years ago
Not expecting an high achiever to be 'nice' can cause green eyed jealousy - observed it in High Sch
Althea Whyte 3 years ago
Dont know how to vote with the ending , Disgusting. sarcasm or irony?
#3
I married her
Sarah SH 3 years ago
Clearly you were pretty smart as well. My friend used to always say the smartest thing he ever said was, “I do.”
Joy van der Linden 3 years ago
This tells me exactly nothing about her and is more about him TBH
Joy van der Linden 3 years ago
That does not tell me a single thing about who she became and is more about him TBH
The psychologist believes that high school can be a precursor for someone's adult life, but that's not always the case.
"By high school, you are likely to have a pretty good idea of a person's academic achievement, and high academic achievement in high school tends to lead to high academic achievement after it, but in terms of a person's personality, that is definitely not set in stone by high school. Personality tends to solidify in our mid-20s, so there is a lot of room for people to change from who they were in high school."
#4
I graduated in a class of 18 people (Edit).
I was co-Valedictorian. Thanks to social media and my mother sending me the local paper for years, I can tell you what happened to all of them:
Two are dead. Three are in jail, including my co-Valedictorian (child molestation). Three work in healthcare (RNs and radiologists, etc). One is a FEMA inspector (she’s in Kissimmee right now). Two work for the Cherokee Nation. One is a roofer. One has been fired as a jail guard (violence toward inmates) and kicked out of a church as pastor for embezzlement. One is a high school basketball coach. One is an openly gay cop in Austin, which I find fascinating considering where we came from. Two are meth heads who dropped off the map.
And I got college scholarships, left my shitty town for an English degree and the promise of the Great American Novel. Instead I became a college advisor, married a college professor, had a great kid later in life, and then semi-retired last year to be the single cook at my son’s small private school. Today I made Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas with a roasted tomatillo sauce from scratch. Truly living my best life. #Classof88
Sarah SH 3 years ago
This kind of sounds like a tongue-in-cheek post of patting himself on the back a little bit in comparison.
Mulberry Juice 3 years ago
I think this guy deserves to pat himself on the back. That enchilada sounds delish!!
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Kevin Felton 3 years ago
Nothing to do with the post, but where the hell did they find the cuffs to do that picture, a museum? Those are some Wyatt Earp cuffs right there.
OmBoyGanesh 3 years ago
This is the aweosme thing about attending a small school. Of the 14 in my graduating class, I’ve no idea what happened to 3, am extremely close friends with 4 and have been in contact with the remaining 6 via Facebook/Instagram. One’s a stay at home mom, one is an actress/director with at least one Oscar, one is in prison for DV/rape/murder, then there’s an oncologist, fish researcher (?), an environmental engineer and a mixed media artist.
#5
Valedictorian with perfect SAT. Kind, approachable and funny. Everyone assumed he would want to go into law or become a doctor. Instead learned traditional dance and joined a well respected dance troupe performing at cultural events and weddings. Was honored to have them perform at my wedding. Still an amazing human as far as I know.
Some predictions, however, are possible. For example, when researchers from the University of Virginia looked at a community sample of 169 adolescents over 10 years (from the time they were age 15 to when they were 25), they found that teen friendships (or the lack of them) may directly impact their long-term mental and emotional health.
"High school students with higher-quality best friendships tended to improve in several aspects of mental health over time, while teens who were popular among their peers during high school may be more prone to social anxiety later in life," said Rachel K. Narr, a Ph.D. candidate in clinical psychology, who led the study.
#6
She graduated from college, got married, had 5 kids, and homeschools now. She and her husband lived way below their means, saved every penny, invested in trailer parks, and retired early. She goes on cruises twice a year and makes a mean homebrew in her basement. She is me. Thanks for asking!
An Unpopular Opinion. 3 years ago
People are sarcastically calling her humble but you know what- It is okay to be proud of yourself. Let her be
Dre Mosley 3 years ago
Good for her. I don’t think she’s being arrogant or putting herself on a pedestal. It’s okay to speak highly of oneself. It shouldn’t be taboo.
Florence O'Grady 3 years ago
You did what we all should do, THINK. You and your husband thought and planned. You invested wisely and so have a cushion to help with extra expenses that pop up in life. You homeschool/rd your children which will bless them as adults and siblings. Congratulations on following your longings and listening to each other.
RezFidel 3 years ago
cruiseshits? Bah.... https://foe.org/blog/cruise-ships-environmental-impact/
An Unpopular Opinion. 3 years ago
Yeah... not like everyone is going to stop going on cruises suddenly though, that's a fact.
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Amber.exe (She/They) 3 years ago
I was like oh wow you know a lot about her did you marry her I didn't realize you were her.
#7
He took 6 years to finish college and graduated with a chemical dependency problem that took another 6 years to get over. He has a low key job now and is reliable, if unremarkable. Some would say he never realized his potential, but he's content and doesn't really care what people say.
Lama 3 years ago (edited)
The only potential that really matters, is your potential to be a good, happy human. If you are, congratulations, potential realized :) Don't let anyone put you on a path, just because you are able to walk it.
Sarah SH 3 years ago
I hate it when people throw an addict’s “lost potential” in their face. Glad he is clean now.
Suzi Q 3 years ago
I agree. I see many people thrive after addiction recovery.
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Interestingly, neither having a strong best friendship nor being more popular predicted short-term changes in mental health; these differences only became apparent later and they appeared regardless of the youth's experiences in the interim.
"Our study affirms that forming strong close friendships is likely one of the most critical pieces of the teenage social experience," Joseph Allen, Hugh P. Kelly Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, who co-authored the study, added. "Being well-liked by a large group of people cannot take the place of forging deep, supportive friendships. And these experiences stay with us, over and above what happens later. As technology makes it increasingly easy to build a social network of superficial friends, focusing time and attention on cultivating close connections with a few individuals should be a priority."
#8
Four years after high school graduation, he was driving back to Yale from spring break, weeks from graduating with highest honors, and then starting a Rhodes scholarship, when his car was hit head-on by a truck. He was killed instantly. We all believed he would be the first African American president of the U.S.
Chancey 3 years ago
It's true. His name was Roosevelt Thompson and it happened in 1984.
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#9
He was actually quite overweight. When he left for college, he was studying physics. Couple of years later, I learned that he lost 175 pounds, became super into fitness, dropped out of college and became a gym trainer.
Ahimsa Soul 3 years ago
Taking care of your health and doing what you love is a smart move! Good for him!
Eithne Griffiths 3 years ago
Average student ,average looking,average all round.Became a star player for Everton F.C.
Berdarien Brown 3 years ago
Scientists and people who love science become the best personal fitness coaches. Good for him.
Our former classmates aren't the only people from our past we like to keep tabs on. How many times have you "accidentally" looked up your ex?
"These are obviously people that you've had a strong emotional attachment to and the obvious question people want the answer to is whether they found someone new," Dr. Stein said.
"Again, it's that comparison thing: for better or worse, people want to know if past relationship partners have moved on to someone else, what that person is like, and in general see how they are doing in life. I don't think there are many people who haven't looked up past partners online!"
Quick, someone ask Redditors about this topic!
#10
Not my class, like 15 years after I graduated. I visited my hs to see an old teacher who was retiring. While talking to the principle he tells me about this student who was legit one of the most brilliant students the school had had in decades. He wanted to be a chef. (I am one). Cut to the graduation and he is due to give his speech.
The one they approved was totally dropped. He gave a scathing tirade against all the teachers for not supporting him and kept pushing him to not follow his dreams and to just go to regular college. I heard it was brutal.
(Kid had a scholarship to several top culinary programs already, his family owned a successful restaurant).
He is a happy chef. His family doesn’t support the school anymore.
My years smart folks are all married and grandparents by now.
Jay TheSaltLord 3 years ago
Somehow doubt that the reddit poster is going to see your correction of their spelling here.
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#11
Became a doctor, decided it wasnt for her and went to law school. Is currently a barrister as far as I know.
Anon822209 3 years ago
And all I can think is how did she pay for all of that school? Not in a critical way, but in an envious way. I still haven't paid back my loans from my BA 10 years after I got it.
HardieBoysMama 3 years ago
Lawyers make good money. A barrister is a type of lawyer.
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#12
He had a offer to work on a nuclear submarine I s**t you not. But he failed the drug test.
The last person he smoked with. Me.
I felt horrible.
PeachPossum 3 years ago
He could have chosen not to smoke, even chosen not to be around you when you smoked. Instead, he chose to smoke with the writer. That was his mistake, not writer's. A friend and her family lived in a duplex. My friend's older son slept in the basement to have his own space, letting his younger brother have the spare bedroom on the top floor to himself. Their duplex neighbor smoked weed in his basement at night. The odor would wake up my friend's son. Their son had plans to join the military after high school. For more than a month before he was due his mandatory drug test, he moved back upstairs with his younger brother because he didn't want even a trace of that stuff in his system. He passed his tests and went on for a three-year tour of duty in the army.
madbakes 3 years ago
That's a blessing in disguise. Being on a submarine seems like it would be terrible.
Nolgoth 3 years ago
As a former submariner i can say it is def not for everyone. Loved my job but most people in the military suck so i wasnt a fan of a lot of the people i served with.
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Christian Maas 3 years ago
There's no reason to exclude anybody for cannabis use. Alcohol is far more harmful and legal. They need to start excluding people for alcohol use.
Bored_Panda 3 years ago
I don't understand the 2nd half of the first sentence. May someone please explain?
Timmy Pillinger 3 years ago
I shĩt you not? I'm not lying or exaggerating
Load More Replies... #13
My best friend was arguably the smartest kid in my school, or one of the smartest. Had a lot of inner demons, passed away young because of those inner demons.
Sarah SH 3 years ago
Smart doesn’t always equal emotionally/psychologically sound. Too many instances out there of people being baffled that smart kids don’t always have everything going for them. “He was so smart, he should have known better than to try drugs.” Umm, different elements at play there.
Thomas Alskit 3 years ago
I agree with that statement, and it really is quite sad. Just because they're smart doesn't mean that they are immune to depression, or anxiety, or even just basic things like neglect or unkindness. People seem to see them as less human than the rest, which just isn't true.
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Paul Brown 3 years ago
My step-son was one the smartest kids i ever seen, he could've literally been anything he wanted to be. Instead he's a heroin addict with one od and several car wrecks to his name. Sad.
Monosyllabic girl 3 years ago
I was in the advanced classes from 1st grade on, skipped 3rd grade. Started taking college courses in the summer in between years of high school. Being book smart doesn't help you relieve the boredom from being smart or the pressure to succeed. At 16 i started smoking pot and drinking, 17 using lsd. 18, pain pills as they melt all the worries away. At 20 graduated to heroin as the pills got harder to obtain. I've been clean for 8 years now and i try to give advice to people who i see are going down my path. We can't change the past but we can change the future and don't deserve to be judged for the people we were. Not getting emotional support from loved ones is what is "sad."
Load More Replies... #14
He dropped out if uni and became a bartender. Made fun of me and bullied me because i was failing at math and science in hs. Now I have an engineering degree and last I saw him, he was still living with his parents.
Sarah SH 3 years ago
Karma, but make sure not to use the failures of others to validate yourself.
soakingwetbread 3 years ago
thats exactly what started “not like other girls” other women’s success does not determine your own.
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Doug the Special one 3 years ago
Gosh golly gee willikers aren't we allowed to make ourselves feel good by demeaning others?
Sarah SH 3 years ago
Plus, they don’t know what kind of home life or issues this bully might have had going on. Not that bullying is justifiable, but there could be reasons that guy ended up living with his parents and working at a bar that others had no idea about.
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#15
He went on to study Business and Chinese and now he's a businessman in China
#16
I still talk to him. He's a good friend of mine, still. He's an engineer at Google now. I am not.
John G 3 years ago
My office neighbor's wife works at Google. I worked at a company that got bought by Google (Motorola) but it was made clear we didn't work for Google. That part of the company was sold within a year.
Load More Replies... #17
She went to college, got her Master's degree, started medical school, got pregnant and has been a stay at home Mom for 20 years.
Susie Elle 3 years ago
If she's happy and in a good situation then that's all that matters I suppose
Kat Min 3 years ago
If the 'good situation' includes her having financial means independent of a husband who may or may not leave her, then, yes. If she doesn't, it's quite a gamble.
Load More Replies... Sarah SH 3 years ago
I wonder if they are trying to imply something about her not using her education? Maybe I am hypersensitive because I have a friend who is a stay at home mom with a Master’s degree whose mother always tells her “You could be running a hospital right now instead of changing diapers!”
David H 3 years ago
there was an article a while back about a woman who graduated summa cum laude from a top university who did 1 year of med school, dropped out to find herself, became a SAMH in a religious community, had several kids, and at 33 decided to go back to med school, graduated valedictorian of her med school class and while in Med School had 2 more kids. She and her husband made it work. She said she was unhappy in her early 20's, found religion, was very happy, but decided once she discovered herself and found her balance in life, to go back and do her dream, and now she is a doctor in Florida in her residency. People need to make what they feel is best for their lives, and not let others tell them otherwise
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Gozer LeGozerian 3 years ago
What an insult to all professions that actually pay and are essential to the world functioning
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Gozer LeGozerian 3 years ago
Why waste your time taking a master's just to stay at home. What a waste of potential.
#18
I was friends with the guy who had the 2nd highest GPA in our class. He created a business renting out and managing office equipment. I lost touch with him, but I just Google his business. It's still open, and he's still the owner, after 15-20 years. Glassdoor says it's worth 5 to 25 million USD.
Pheebs 3 years ago
I don’t trust the GPAs from my high school as being indicators of smart. A lot of kids worked the system to bloat their GPAs taking easier classes. The top 50 kids basically skated through. I will say the valedictorian was pretty smart, but I didn’t really see her as “doctor” smart. Super nice, though. Hope she’s done well.
#19
I was the smartest in my school, I am now in university and have become the depressed average student with no skills or social life.
OnAFreakingRollercoaster 3 years ago
Yo. I can totally relate. Got married, had kids, am a SAHM and suffer from massive depression. I was the A++ student, could accomplish anything I put my mind to and now ... 🤷🏼♀️ Not only is life a b*tch, it has puppies 😏
gie 3 years ago
This happened to one of my classmates. Highschool is a little pond where being exceptionally smart or talented does stand out. In uni, the sea is full of peers who were most likely just as exceptional and talented as you if not better. It can be a lot of first year students who weren't prepared emotionally or managed expectations what happens if you end up becoming one of the average students versus the top of class that they were used to in high school. That's why I think some average students in high school manage well after graduation because they understood and accepted their lot and know there's other options for themselves including going up.
madbakes 3 years ago
It definitely was a struggle for me. I never needed to study or be disciplined through school,
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Althea Whyte 3 years ago
Dont say that. Join groups until you find your satisfaction and happiness
Tammy Leung 3 years ago
Btw, the smartest kid in medical school did not become a doctor. He switched before finishing medical school and became a neurobiologist. I am sure he saved way more people by doing research.
#20
Went to West Point. Knocked up his girlfriend his junior year, so automatically disqualified from attending (you couldn't have dependents and attend a military academy at the time, not sure if that is still true). Married the girl, got divorced a couple of years later.
Enlisted in the Army to fulfill his service obligation, finally became an officer in his early 30s and is now flying blackhawks. Got remarried and has two kids with the new wife. Seems genuinely happy.
Sleepy children love Moon 3 years ago
no one's paths are straight. they are all curved and/or super squiggly lines
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#21
The one older than me went to MIT and then Stanford. He’s doing something tech related in Silicon Valley or something like that.
The one younger than me (and I never knew he was this smart) wound up at Harvard Medical and then was a Fulbright Scholar. He’s a doctor in New England somewhere and his wife is also a Harvard doctor.
Vanja Timmers 3 years ago
Just wondering if a "Harvard doctor" has better skills than a not Harvard doctor. In my country we would never mention the name of the University as it is not relevant (same qualifications). But as I often see similar references I just wonder if this is different in the US.
Tess 3 years ago (edited)
The US college system is all geared toward elitism. Harvard University is considered one of the best, if not the best. This is even more applicable as far as medicine goes. You're competing with every other high school graduate in the country for the few places available. You pretty much have to have been the best in every way your entire schooling life, or close to it and come from the right lineage, or both. Getting in is almost impossible. Being able to pay for tuition is also almost impossible. Then you have to complete with every other student in your class, because that's more or less all you've ever known how to do. If you manage to make it through to graduation, you're already pretty much conditioned to use the name Harvard as a prefix. This is my take as someone from Australia who didn't want to go to university.
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#22
Has 6 kids to 5 different fathers & is currently being investigated for massive benefit fraud.
Sarah SH 3 years ago (edited)
I don’t appreciate when people add on the “by so many fathers” thing. Not just here, but in general. It just implies something trashy unnecessarily.
AnkleByter 3 years ago (edited)
I won't downvote you, because downvotes here suck when unnecessary, but, there is something trashy going on in this instance (re: benefits fraud). It is also implied that if one needs benefits, continuing to have children with multiple partners for years on end, is pretty trashy behavior. Even my own sister will tell you her behavior when younger was pretty trashy (which is why her children have 3 different fathers). She learned from it, and is in a better place in life now, making better life choices, which I commend. But she won't deny what she once was, or did, that's just asinine.
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TheElderNom 3 years ago
Having six children to five different fathers was literally something I said I wanted as a child. But I wanted to be a grocery clerk so I wouldn't have to do math, not being investigated for fraud. Still, it's hard seeing others living your dream :p
May Au 3 years ago
6 kids 5 different fathers? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔. There’s very little way to not look bad.
Sarah SH 3 years ago
Looking bad and being shamed are different things. Replace “trashy” with other potential phrases like “having problems,” or “bad choices.”
Load More Replies... #23
He went to college and double majored in business and biomechanical engineering at a very good school. Graduated, and is apparently doing research for some big company. Dude is smart as f**k.
#24
He's a NASA scientist, while I just come on Reddit
3 Owls In A Coat 3 years ago
I bet the NASA scientist goes on Reddit too anyways 😝
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Sarah Monk 3 years ago
You are just as valuable and worthy, there is no ‘just’ in this what you’ve done is ‘just’ as amazing xx well done
#25
Last I saw our class valedictorian, 40 years ago - when we were about 21, he bragged about he and a couple of friends breaking into a logging company's powder shack to steal the explosives. He was disappointed that they failed to ignite under the bridge they had selected.
It is very depressing to know that I'm stupider than him.
JP Purves 3 years ago
It's not smart or intelligent to blow up a bridge. In this case OP is far the brighter person.
Load More Replies... Pheebs 3 years ago
I see common sense on a bell curve. The smarter or dumber you are, the less you have. I say this as someone who has worked with people on both ends of the bell.
Load More Replies... Thomas Alskit 3 years ago
Forgive me, but as a Brit, I have absolutely no idea what a valedictorian is, save for the fact that they are selected at graduation to perform a speech. Could someone please enlighten me?
Craig Staley 3 years ago
A valedictorian is the person who had the best grades in the graduating class.
Load More Replies... Althea Whyte 3 years ago
Dont be depressed. You assessing his behaviour makes you smarter than him
Almarako94 3 years ago
Acing at school doesn't mean you're smart, it means you fit into the system perfectly and are good at remembering stuff, that's all.
Kantami Blossom 3 years ago
Being intelligent doesn't necessarily mean being smart, I passed a mensa test that I did out of boredom/curiosity which should mean I'm intelligent yet I often do things that are considered stupid and I consider myself as being average in intelligence I'm just good at remembering random stuff.
#26
After graduation at our high school, he did four years of University, I went to his wedding right after University Graduation. She was probably the smartest girl at our high School. Got a job with Lockheed Martin real quick. Nobody has seen him since. I could see him in a top secret government lab inventing anti gravity flight. Whenever I hear about a UFO sighting, I say “ Oh that’s just Bill”
Esme Love and Squalor 3 years ago
I am native English speaker and was confused as well.
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Daniel Atkins 3 years ago
Manufacturer of Aircraft for the Military The f16 the f35 the f22 fighter jets and many of the helicopters just ti name a few of their products.
Load More Replies... #27
He lives in the same small village he was living in when we were in school, is married with kids and apparently works in an office in the nearest town. He had aspirations of becoming a surgeon when we were in school, it didn't happen, but it sounds like he's living a good life regardless
Diphylleia Grayi 3 years ago
The only think that should matters to us the most is to find our own paths! I was 15 when I finished highschool. I got very anxious because around two years two teachers kept comparing me and others with the most intelligent of our groups, it haunted me years, in personal experience that kid only lost a gift from my aunt and I did not hate her a a single day, but, the assumptions of teachers that of 100 adolescents only her would be the one that was going to go to the university made me not wanting to even listen her name again, I wish her well always. And then, adulthood crushed me and taught me that my biggest dream is to find in which thing I am good enough because I am below average, and I did not like the job unestability that provides my career, so I started to study programming languages, I suck, but at least if it helps me to fullffil my dream I would be honoured and happy too find my own path in life.
ThatBiBookLover 3 years ago
I wish you all the best in your journey!! <3 hugs 🫂
Load More Replies... #28
He was my investment advisor. I wasn’t overly impressed with him but I trusted him. We are all retired now.
#29
He barely graduated due to giving up on public school, joined the army for one term to get out of his rural improvised town. He struggled for 15+ years to make ends meet and at his mid 40s is finally buying a house and is on track to retire at 55.
Being the smartest out of a class of 100 isn't that exceptional.
PeachPossum 3 years ago
Hmm... This one makes me think there's more to it than meets the eye. He must be doing something right to be able to retire by age 55, a full decade younger than the average.
Sarah SH 3 years ago
Me too. Like did something happen while he was in the army?
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#30
She got her Ph.D in Chemistry from Harvard and is now Dean of the Science Department at our local state university, of about 20k students. Went to a high school in a town of about 4,500 people. Still see her occasionally.
#31
Completely fell off the radar. I assume he's running some sort of nefarious thinktank for a huge tech company or something.
Cuppa tea? 3 years ago
Or not on internet at all - no social media. I know many people this, they're not off the radar, just off the digital footprints.
harpling 3 years ago
Clearly, that is the most likely outcome and a perfectly logical assumption to make.
Sarah SH 3 years ago (edited)
Yeah my mind totally went there after the word nefarious.
Load More Replies... #32
The smartest kid: Went to an esteemed Aerospace university but had to move back home due to medical issues. No idea what happened to him there. The valedictorian (smartest on paper): Works as an OBGYN in upstate New York. The most successful: A musical tiktok star with 12 million followers.
*Displayname*=idk 3 years ago
According to Google OBGYN is "A branch of medicine that specializes in the care of women during pregnancy and childbirth and in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the female reproductive organs" (I didn't know what it stood for)
Althea Whyte 3 years ago (edited)
And in wording is Obstetrics and Gynecology
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MalayDragon 3 years ago
I'm sorry, when did being a TikTok "star" become more successful than a Freaking Medical professional. I know which would be more useful during childbirth and which one would be chosen. Nobody gonna say "No i don't need my OBGYN, get me that Tiktok star gonna make me some content"
Wendy Lampl 3 years ago
I guess it all depends on your definition of success. Being a tictok star is not it to me, even less so, a tictok follower.
#33
So the valedictorian is a dentist. The person I believe is the actual smartest person (I think she was 3rd in our class) is getting her PhD in physics of some sort.
#34
Professor at Cambridge University
#35
Male: Got a 4.0 from a top public university, studied Financial Mathematics, became a quantitative Trader
Female: Graduated Summa Cum Laude from an Ivy and is now in Medical School
Temporary Dork 3 years ago
That's someone who thinks up the algorithms that computers use to buy and sell stock.
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#36
Graduated college early, worked with data/stats, quit the job to raise her kids and bake fancy cookies. Seems genuinely happy.
️sHeS rEaLLy gOoD️ (They/Them) 3 years ago
I would absolutely love a life like that, it sounds awesome!
Load More Replies... #37
Smartest girl: is enrolled in a special Law program which takes 6+1 years to complete, saw her on the news recently for scoring all of her year's exams cum laude. Smartest boy: dropped off the face of the Earth internet-wise, no activity from his social media whatsoever, so I can't tell you.
B.Nelson 3 years ago
Usually it means getting your undergraduate and graduate degree at the same time in the program. Had a friend that did a 4+1 program where 4 years for undergrad and 1 extra year for masters...but I could be wrong.
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#38
One studied medicine and emigrated to Australia. He's a flying doctor now. The other, who did even better at A levels stayed in the small town we went to school in and got a job in a bank. She never went to university as it was against her parents' wishes - despite her lifelong dream of teaching. I have no idea what happened to her, she never got social media, it's like she dropped off the face of the earth.
harpling 3 years ago
I'm not sure what a flying doctor is, but in my head it's someone performing open-heart surgery in mid-air!
Timmy Pillinger 3 years ago
Rural Australia has a service where doctors fly to their patients.
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🇳🇬 Asi Bassey 🇳🇬 3 years ago
I wonder why people equate not being in social media to “dropping off the face of the earth”. I rather think that people who aren’t on social media are healthier mentally.
#39
Columbia Med School. Brain surgeon.
#40
He's a scientist (something related to nutrition) and a big fitness Youtuber
#41
Got falsely accused of SA
Won the court case after proving he wasn't in the town when the SA supposedly happened
Nearly unalived himself
Got sent to US where he now is
Craig Staley 3 years ago
It means killed. Some websites (like Bored Panda) censor the word "killed" so people use "unalived."
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#42
She went to U Miami, became a lawyer, got addicted to cocaine and died of an OD. Doesn’t matter how smart you are.
#45
Working for NASA as an aerospace engineer.
#46
Dropped out of med school and is a Kindergarten teacher.
#47
There were 3 I would argue were the smartest. They were all neck and neck for the valedictorian and salutatorian title. 2 of them I was never really close to so I have no idea what they're doing exactly. One of them moved out half way across the country and had a child and the other was a johovahs witness and there was something about them not being allowed to go to university for what they wanted to do. Other than that I don't know what they're doing.
The other was actually a good friend I knew since the 3rd grade but we fell in and out of each other's lives. Life changed directions for them as far as aspirations go. Originally he was part way through a master's program for human kinetics but he realized it wasn't going to pan out as expected so he went into teaching. Now he's married, has a kid and overall happy I believe.
Thomas Alskit 3 years ago
The religion of Jehovah's witnesses seems more messed up than ever now.
#48
He’s a Captain for the US Navy.
#49
He went to Oxford Uni. I couldn’t stand the kid, but his life’s going pretty well so fair play to him. He had that arrogance about him, that just made you want to punch him in the face, but he was too scrawny to punch without looking like an a*****e.
#50
One's a Partner for a highly renowned financial firm. The other is either a surgeon, or in his residency to become one.
#51
Planned for med school from the time I met him in 8th grade. Even signed yearbooks "MD2B". Went to med school through the program where the military will pay for a few years service. Somehow, through his Air Force service, started working for National Security. Never became an actual doctor.
Nathan Pogorzala 3 years ago (edited)
the U.S. Government provides a pretty solid career, benefits and pensions. Plus, there are over 2 million (non-military) positions.
#52
Knew a guy who was really smart, but also was kind of a s**t bag. He got caught a couple years back producing a ton of Fentanyl at his aunt or grandmas house I think.
#53
I became a lawyer, live alone and feel unfulfilled
Ahimsa Soul 3 years ago
I'm so sorry to hear that. Hope you find something that makes you fullfilled.
#54
Went and got a doctorate in physics and now works as a logistics corrosive m coordinator for an energy company.
#56
Funny, she didn't pass the admition exam for the carreer she wanted in Uni. Three years after she finally got in, she was expelled for cheating.
#57
Got a scholarship to Harvard. No idea what happened after she gave her valedictorian speech.
#59
Teaches English in Japan
tHeBoRdEsTpAnDa 3 years ago
My secondary school English teacher taught english in japan before coming back to england
#60
He now works at my old high school. Teaching Math. He was smart as s**t, but as ambitious as a slug
HardieBoysMama 3 years ago
Just looking at high school maths gives me an aneurysm, so good for him. Teaching is incredibly ambitious. It's not just summers and holidays off, it's hard work. And dealing with parents...no thanks.
Diphylleia Grayi 3 years ago (edited)
Society builds the education. Education builds the society.
#61
Dated me for about 4 years (first mistake). Was Valedictorian. Went to Duke University. Last I heard she dropped out her sophomore year right after we broke up, but I don't know what happened after that. This was nearly 20 years ago. That was the high school I graduated from. The previous high school I went to: Was Valedictorian. Went to Texas A&M. Got kicked out for setting a couch on fire on the quad.
#63
Got a scholarship to become a civil servant. Will eventually have a hand in running the country
#64
We had two: one is a music producer getting her PhD to become a professor, the other is Disguised Toast. I am on reddit with a bag of nachos.
#65
He was gay and now is a gay priest.
What do you think ?
Bobby 3 years ago
It was me. I was the smart kid. After school I made one terrible decision after another and it took a 5 year vacation from the world courtesy of the department of Justice to get my head out of my a*s and stop blaming the world for my problems. Now I'm a father of 3 lovely children and have a wife who is supporting of me and helping me get back to school to pursue my passions. Our hope is that if I can make it as a freelancer making close to what she does as a travel sleep tech we'll be able to each only work 6 months a year and take all of summer off with our kids
GirlFriday 3 years ago
The smartest guy in my high school went on to graduate from West Point and about 2 after his graduation from there, he was arrested, tried and found guilty of molesting and trafficking several children. He is prison now and probably won't ever get out. That is a good thing.
John Ambrose 3 years ago
The one really smart guy I was friends with got a bunch of scholarships for one of the best universities in our state. Some kind of computer science, it was the 90s. First year of school got involved in a toxic relationship. She lied about being pregnant, cheated on him and all that. When they broke up, he quit everything. School, job, life. Ended up being a pretty successful musician a couple years later. He got into drugs for a while but, luckily, quit the lifestyle before it killed him. I remember seeing him once when we were about 30 and he was as skinny and pale as a skeleton. Now he's in grad school to be a veterinarian.
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
Grades aren't always intelligence. And luck and so forth play parts. Let's face it, if you graduate top of the class in Nowhere, vs top of the class at a fancy preparatory school? Your options right there are different.
madbakes 3 years ago
It has taken me a good amount of therapy to truly accept this and not beat myself up too badly.
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Casey Burns 3 years ago
The smartest woman in our class became a NASA aerospace engineer. Monanika was her name.
Wysteria_Rose 3 years ago
Smartest person was my best friend and still is, though we live far apart and can't talk as much anymore. She now teaches at our high school and works alongside her mom, but she has her own house and plans to have kids on her own someday. I'm proud of her!
howdylee 3 years ago
Of my graduating class (about 100 students per grade): 1 is a veterinarian, 1 is a lawyer, 1 is an aviation engineer, several RN's & teachers, I am an architect, and this is just the women! 1 guy was/is an engineer for NASA. Most of the loud mouths never got out of town and aren't doing anything exciting (not saying they're not happy, just not as accomplished on paper.) We had quite the group of quiet, determined women in our class!
Michael Largey 3 years ago
The first valedictorian from our school went to a prestigious college and then became a priest. He worked his way up the order and ended up at a very young age the president of a major Catholic university. Then he was exposed as a pedophile, and all that came crashing down. I was not surprised. He always had been the picture of smug entitlement and felt he deserved anything he wanted. He refused to express any remorse.
Bobby 3 years ago
It was me. I was the smart kid. After school I made one terrible decision after another and it took a 5 year vacation from the world courtesy of the department of Justice to get my head out of my a*s and stop blaming the world for my problems. Now I'm a father of 3 lovely children and have a wife who is supporting of me and helping me get back to school to pursue my passions. Our hope is that if I can make it as a freelancer making close to what she does as a travel sleep tech we'll be able to each only work 6 months a year and take all of summer off with our kids
GirlFriday 3 years ago
The smartest guy in my high school went on to graduate from West Point and about 2 after his graduation from there, he was arrested, tried and found guilty of molesting and trafficking several children. He is prison now and probably won't ever get out. That is a good thing.
John Ambrose 3 years ago
The one really smart guy I was friends with got a bunch of scholarships for one of the best universities in our state. Some kind of computer science, it was the 90s. First year of school got involved in a toxic relationship. She lied about being pregnant, cheated on him and all that. When they broke up, he quit everything. School, job, life. Ended up being a pretty successful musician a couple years later. He got into drugs for a while but, luckily, quit the lifestyle before it killed him. I remember seeing him once when we were about 30 and he was as skinny and pale as a skeleton. Now he's in grad school to be a veterinarian.
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
Grades aren't always intelligence. And luck and so forth play parts. Let's face it, if you graduate top of the class in Nowhere, vs top of the class at a fancy preparatory school? Your options right there are different.
madbakes 3 years ago
It has taken me a good amount of therapy to truly accept this and not beat myself up too badly.
Load More Replies... Casey Burns 3 years ago
The smartest woman in our class became a NASA aerospace engineer. Monanika was her name.
Wysteria_Rose 3 years ago
Smartest person was my best friend and still is, though we live far apart and can't talk as much anymore. She now teaches at our high school and works alongside her mom, but she has her own house and plans to have kids on her own someday. I'm proud of her!
howdylee 3 years ago
Of my graduating class (about 100 students per grade): 1 is a veterinarian, 1 is a lawyer, 1 is an aviation engineer, several RN's & teachers, I am an architect, and this is just the women! 1 guy was/is an engineer for NASA. Most of the loud mouths never got out of town and aren't doing anything exciting (not saying they're not happy, just not as accomplished on paper.) We had quite the group of quiet, determined women in our class!
Michael Largey 3 years ago
The first valedictorian from our school went to a prestigious college and then became a priest. He worked his way up the order and ended up at a very young age the president of a major Catholic university. Then he was exposed as a pedophile, and all that came crashing down. I was not surprised. He always had been the picture of smug entitlement and felt he deserved anything he wanted. He refused to express any remorse.
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