Was out this afternoon, & lucky enough to be waited on by a woman who is impressive...unusually so.
She looked to be about 5'10", & is attending a major university in the next state over with a double major in psychology & marine biology (with a mammalian focus). She has a pretty good idea of what to do with her degree once she gets it in '26 (research). A bright girl. Judging from a comment on my future plans, she has some environmental consciousness but isn't doctrinaire about it. Today is her last day at the slop hou--er, restaurant.
We had a good conversation. I wished her well in her endeavors. I do hope she achieves her dreams, whatever else they are besides her chosen career... What I did not say was this:
Most likely, her life will be lonely at certain times. Not all the time--she's obviously a sociable person--but there will be times like that for her.
Wouldn't be surprised if she already went through such discomfort when she was in high school.
The reason why I'm sure of my prediction is because it has been borne out in my experience, more than once. Have also heard similar stuff from a couple others; one of them was my father...just for perspective, the only reason he didn't get his Ph.D. in economics is because he never finished his master's thesis. I'll tell you that about my old man, but of my capabilities I will say nothing because I'm not here to brag. My exact IQ doesn't matter; just know that high intelligence tends to run in my father's family (along with high achievement--sometimes). Which sounds great, but the flip side is that it can be, & sometimes is, isolating.
It's not limited to smart people alone but if you are, then you completely understand the phrase "alone in a crowd". Your fate is sealed for the day/evening if you try to share a concept or information or something with someone else, & that someone just doesn't get it.
I've had all those moments. Once that waitress graduates with her degree, works her way up the nonprofit ladder & starts researching whales, the day will come when she is in the same situation... However, I suspect she will handle it better than I have.
Mandatory YT clip with relevant trope here:
TheMiamiDeSantos
i find it interesting how many people go to college there in the usa, here in brazil is harder to find someone who went to college, in my whole family just one of my relatives did go, nobody here in the pizza parlor did either. I just finished high school and the lady that did register my info in the brazilian ministry of labor thing did put "unfinished high school" lol
ShadenLines
This might surprise you but it is an ongoing problem here...has been for a few decades. For several reasons, far too many high school graduates are sent off to four-year universities every year. It's a problem because if you want higher education to be, well, higher education--with high standards, real curricula, things that help students develop their intellects--then one must face the truth: not everyone is meant to go into academia. I could go on at length about why but the point is, too many students enrolling --> lots of students needing/wanting a degree --> falling ed standards. The girl I talked to obviously took her major seriously enough to search out the best classes & professors. Unfortunately, that isn't the norm in all American universities. Brazil's approach is probably more sensible overall.