A few days ago
Anonymous

Determination VS Ability?

I have been told that not everyone is capable of performing exceptionally well.Apparently some students are ‘gifted’ in academics e.g maths and sciences(tough subjects) while other are either not gifted or they just have average intelligence.Is it possible for an average student through sheer determination to achieve as the so called gifted people i.e straight A’s. Could i please have brutal honesty answers.i want to know the truth.Thanking everyone in advance

Top 6 Answers
A few days ago
Eclectic

Favorite Answer

I taught college for 20 years. There is nothing more powerful than true determination in the absence of organic intellect deficit for any student to excel. However it is also a function of ‘nature’ and ‘nurture’ in that the student who has been raised with high academic standards will excel as a result of programmed response and those born with exceptionally high intellects will achieve what comes naturally.

It is speculated that stability in the home environment, i.e., harmony in the home and lack of a migratory lifestyle such as those imposed by military parents or some farm workers may be contributory towards both ends of the performance spectrum.

As for myself, I was an underachiever who did exceptionally well on tests — particularly ‘standardized’ tests — but failed to complete homework assignments. This was the chagrin of my parents and the source of numerous bouts of corporal punishment.

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A few days ago
wisdomdude
Throughout human history people have succeeded and failed for more reasons than you can imagine. “Gifted” students…well, what are they really? “Gifted” is a value loaded term and is subjectively defined….so depending on the culture and perceptions…it can be very, very different.

For example….dwarfism in current American society and culture is NOT the stuff of movie stardom which seems to prefer taller people. Yet in other cultures, dwarfism is a sign of a “gifted” member of society….some being labeled as seers, healers, mystics…all perceived to have supernatural power.

Don’t mistake “grades” in school for intelligence. Grades in school indicates good performance …but grade inflation exists and some students get grades for non-academic reasons that might shock many church-goers.

I graduated from high school with a 2.3 GPA…went to university and got my BA with a 2.6 GPA…earned an MA with a 3.6 GPA…and went on for a PhD….which I dropped out of for “political reasons” (conflict with my professor). However, my career has been characterized as very professional, my work superbly competent, and I even was able to retire early to continue enjoying my life in very good health to implement innovative community projects using all of my prior education and work experience.

It isn’t the grades that count. What counts is what you can do with what you have. Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. Personally, I would prefer to fully use a brain that is 1/2 full rather than to have a full brain that isn’t used at all.

But there is truth in what you were told…not everyone is capable of performing exceptionally well. There are many unemployed and under-employed PhDs in the world. There are success dropouts (Buckminster Fuller comes to mind; regarded as one of America’s top inventors and visionaries). William Harrison, a self-educated man, invented an accurate marine chronometer that led to accurate determinations of longitude…and his concept of time measurement is still used with GPS satellite navigation systems today….well, he has NO GPA at all.

Look at life….many PhDs I know can’t fix a leaky faucet. So they call a plumber…who may not have gone to college at all. Take a PhD and drop them in the middle of the outback of Australia and see how long they can survive without any modern equipment….and aboriginal bushmen with no formal education or degree will survive. So what does that tell you?

Try reading through the Kalama Suttra…and I think you can get a better perspective on this matter.

http://web.singnet.com/~sidneys/kalama.htm

Sure hope this helps you. Best wishes…and never give up.

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A few days ago
Anonymous
I think you are underestimating yourself by implying you are not a gifted person! Of course any student can get an A through determination. And, I think, an A achieved by a normal student is 100 times more important than 200 A’s achieved by a gifted one. After all, ability isn’t everything it, just makes things a bit easier!
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A few days ago
plushy_bear
I believe it it possible. In addition, I told a student (who was having real problems programming a project) that I would give HER a recommendation over another student (who found programming very easy) because the first student would not give up – she kept trying and trying to get the answer. It didn’t hurt that the ‘gifted’ student wasn’t as mature!
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A few days ago
Dragon’sFire
Yes with sheer determination you can achieve anything !, You can do it, like you said it may be easier for some students,

but you can outdo them with hard work!. You may even find out that you are as gifted as they are!.

A man can become as great as any other, if he wants it bad enough!.

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4 years ago
giardina
I surely have seen particularly surprising fulfillment from pupils who try to persevere whilst extra proficient pupils generally make no attempt and attain little. Perseverance and resolution could make a international of difference. definite!! A pupil of favourite skill can, with sufficient attempt, be an ‘A’ pupil. genuinely definite. and an excellent form of do.
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