Better question: Are people who do badly at school "dumb"?

Or stupid?

I used to be an ace at school. I always got like 90s, high 80s, and whatnot. During the first semester of grade 11, I got high 90s.

Then something happened. I think I just became lazy. I used to be OCD about school; I always feared that if I didn't do well, someone will die in the future because of mistakes made by me. Nowadays, I think "I don't want to be as unhappy as I was during that time". So I don't really look forward to school anymore. I don't put too much work into it.

I do have some good things to say about myself. I'm very well-spoken and articulate in writing. I am very polite, and soft-spoken. I am considerate to others, and despite my anger with the world, do things to help other people. People think that I'm good, socially.

Am I really "dumb"? That's kind of what my friends think of me.

Not stupid, less educated. Big difference.

I've worked with many challenged individuals from mildly retarded to extreme. I was their medical transport driver in a small town and every one knew everyone. Some of my clients were smarter then me, yet they had an IQ of under 80. How is that possible? It is. I've also met doctors PhD's, who could not figure out how to use a remote control and many more who were helpless on a computer. Are they stupid? Nope.

I believe there really are two levels of being smart. Educated smart, and street smart.

Exactly why and how a person can be totally educated smart and street stupid, and how a person can be totally street smart be totally uneducated stupid I don't know. I just see it every day.

No, you're not dumb. Like you said, you're just a little lazy... and unfocused. I did the same during my sophomore year (most crucial year of high school) and people know that I'm fairly smart... considering that I'm acing all of my classes at college.

Really? Your friends think you're dumb? Doesn't really seem like they're friendly if you ask me... :/ Nor supportive.

Keep your head up. I can relate to "I don't want to be unhappy as I was", and all I can say is that it leads to more anxiety, trust me. All you can do is live your life and try not to worry about the future.

Have you tried seeing a therapist? Maybe they can help.

I didn't do well in school because I was being abused at home. Don't judge people based on their grades.

Once I went to college I got straight A's. Of course I was never home.

I agree with above - I don't really believe in 'dumb'. There are usually reasons why people don't succeed. Just because you may not have the perfect grade doesn't mean that you aren't smart. It may just be due to lack of motivation, disinterest in the topic or that the way it is taught doesn't fit with your learning style.

I knew of one child at my school who was labeled 'dumb' by some of the teachers because of his grades but when you spoke to him about his interests he was very clued in. One good teacher managed to channel that and make his studies about that interest in ways he could understand. Eg. more visual things, making the math problems about his interests, giving books about his interests with lots of pictures. It took a while, and he still didn't do well with standard tests, but he was able to learn much more and now functions extremely well day to day.

Perfect, thanks guys!

You're not dumb. School isn't made so you can learn math or english but so you really learn who you are and what you're good at. The subjects you learn are just a perk It just takes time to figure things out.

School is just one way to measure but there are a million more!

Best,
Lilly