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| Cell Reproduction Cycle |
Looking at Skloot, briefly, as an abstraction—the talented, underperforming teenager—we can use her story to reflect on the reason bright, talented students sometimes struggle in school. Have you known any students like this? Do you see any kind of patterns in their behavior that might offer insight into the reasons some bright students succeed in school while others fail? Do you see any patterns that might offer insight into what it takes to help the strugglers turn things around?
It seems to me that some very intelligent people struggle in school because it is so structured. I think they get bored with school while whatever they are thinking or creating inside their minds takes all the attention and energy that they have. I think it also depends on their goals, what they want to accomplish, that determines whether or not their focus is on school itself and if they can succeed. Thankfully for Skloot, she discovered that her interest in Henrietta Lacks and her desire to tell her story required her to keep up with school and excel in college. I guess other bright people whose wants aren't so straight forward need more room to do their own thing at school, to incorporate what they have going on inside that head into their everyday education.
ReplyDeleteChelsi Norris
I had a friend in school who was one of the smartest guys I have ever met. He knew every answer in AP Chem and could do complicated math in his head. He could tell you hundreds of facts about almost anything you could think of. However, as brilliant as he was, and still is, he had no motivation. He was adopted at a young age and his new mother didn't want him to be uncomfortable in any way so she never pushed him. He failed most of his classes because he wouldn't do the work. He stayed in trouble and didn't get to walk across stage at graduation. Seeing this genious do nothing with his life really bothered me. I tried to motivate him but failed to do so. When all hope seemed to be lost he finally found his calling in the marines. He found a way to mix physical activity and his brain power. Only then did he make something of himself because he finally found a reason to make himself better.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Hicks
I agree with both Chelsi and Morgan; the success of an individual depends on what it is that motivates that particular individual. While some intelligent students are motivated (both intrinsically and extrinsically) to succeed in the classroom, other equally as intelligent students are not motivated to succeed in the classroom specifically. When a student finds something they are passionate about, the student will take whatever means necessary to further themselves in that particular endeavor. Sometimes all it takes for a "struggler" to succeed is a caring mentor. My intelligent friends who struggle in the classroom do not always have the love and support of family and loved ones. Perhaps the same was true of Morgan's friend, and now that he is surrounded by a group of likeminded individuals who are supportive, he is better prepared to succeed. Extrinsic motivation is as necessary as intrinsic motivation. Even the most focused individuals need a pick-me-up every now and then.
ReplyDeleteEmily Davis
For any student discipline is the determinate for either success or failure. Some intelligent students struggle academically because they lack the discipline to succeed. Such students present the argument that they are not being adequately challenged; therefore, they do not give any effort. However, some disciplined students will do the necessary work then help other students, adjust to a heavier workload, or use free time to better themselves in virus ways. A struggling student can prosper with discipline and guidance. As Emily said, a mentor or a group of like indeed friends could be the driving motivation an individual needs. In addition, as Chelsi said, some people may need just one creative outlet to pour into to find success.
ReplyDeleteAllon Gillispie
DeleteI personally agree with all of the statements above. Not every student, intelligent or not, will be willing to work in school. Yet most will work at a structured job to earn money (the motivation to do better), or will continually interact through video games or card games as a social outlet. Friends of mine in high school were this way; getting them to go home and do homework was impossible, but challenging them to make it to a new level or learn a new card trick would invariably motivate them to the task until completed. I believe that everyone is successful, it just takes time, and maybe a little help, to find each ones niche for success.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chelsi in the point that the structure of school is what affects how some very intelligent people do not succeed, especially in high school. As far as the structure that school gives,I think geniuses do get bored. I am not a genius, and I was often very bored with the mundane work I was given in high school. That is why I took so many concurrent college classes. I think the new school idea that focuses on letting each individual explore his or her best skills is a great idea. Some people are so intelligent that even at a young age, they realize that success in school does not always mean acceptance from peers. I think some geniuses are held back by the people that they are surrounded by. For example, when one highly intelligent person is placed in a classroom with at least twenty average people; instead of the one person positively influencing the others, they bring him down. This may seem cliche, but it is very true. The movies that portray "dumb" athletes that turn out to be secretly smart in the end are very real-life. Sadly, this happens more frequently than most people realize.
ReplyDeleteI was like this for a while in high school. I never studied and didn't complete my homework until the day it was due. I never wanted to go to class and just sat in the library most of the time trying to get the librarian to get me out of class. I'm not sure if anything specifically changed my motivation but I started to understand that I wasn't going to get into college if I continued the way I was going so I decided it was time to grow up and be responsible. It was very difficult and I couldn't have done it without my best friend and the most amazing teachers to keep me in check.
ReplyDeleteKarli Plunkett
During my third and fourth grade year, I attended a private Christian school in Louisiana with an advanced curriculum. Everything was fast passed and prepared the students for a vigorous academic experience in high school and college. Unfortunately, this school was only designed for pre-school age children to the 8th grade, after which students would join the public school system. One of my best friends at this school was always top of the class. I kept in touch with him and his family until he went into high school. After a few years, I heard from his family again, and was surprised to find that he was struggling and making very poor grades. From what I found out from his family, he had come to a time in his life where being smart had become “uncool.” His desire to fit in had overcome his desire to become a good student. If the high school society could reorient itself to where being smart was “cool,” then I believe that there would be fewer problems with talented students being slackers and students who would be struggling would work harder.
ReplyDeleteLooking back on the first half of your first semester in college, how is the combination of structure, discipline, motivation, and the importance of peers and teachers different from what you have experienced before or from what you expected? Is being cool in college any different from being cool in the high school you attended? What kind of "structure" do you find to be helpful and what kind do you find to be unhelpful?
ReplyDeleteThe main difference between high school and college that I have noticed is motivation. Many students in the public school system are there because they have to be, but most college students are here because they choose to be. Because of this, college students are self-motivated. There is very little discipline when it comes to class work in college compared to high school. A high school teacher may be much more likely to call out a student for not completing an assignment as a form of discipline and to also teach them that not doing work has consequences. College students are expected to already understand these consequences. Overall, I have noticed that being smart is no longer "uncool." Because students want to be here, they are more likely to try hard on their work and actually study. Because this is now the norm, it is no longer "uncool." There are still a few people who make snide remarks about the student who seems to know all the answers, but as the semester has continued, the number of these kinds of people has dropped.
DeleteI agree with Melody. If you are in college, it is because you chose to be here. The difference in college and high school is that every kid is forced to go to high school whether they like it or not and in college everyone has made the decision to be here and they are paying for it. I believe that there is an increase in motivation in private schools and colleges compared to public high schools because of the money. One thing that is the same as high school that I struggled with then and now is that I am not challenged in most of my classes and I have no motivation to show up. Time is an important concept to me and I do not like to have my time wasted. It is hard for me to go to a class where I know the professor is going to ramble on all hour about things that are not going to help me.
ReplyDeleteThe best part about colllege is that there are people who I can have a decent conversation with. As Jessica said earlier, I know what it feels like to have 20 average people holding me back from using all of my brains power. Here at college, it seems most people want to move forward and learn more and it is a great support system.
Morgan Hicks