How many people heard "You aren't living up to your potential"...

[WCGreen]

when you were growing up...

Constantly...

After those fucking Iowa test and I scored like 98 or something in the third grade...

Only five kids in the whole city scored higher...

I was called to the office and I thought I was going to get swatted or somehting...

The principal shook my hand and congratulated me...

After that, all down hill...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I used to hear that too...

And I knew I wasn't...

I knew I was smart...

And lazy!

:hi:

[whirlygigspin]

2. hi!

too much a slacker for my own good

[yellowdogintexas]

3. all the damn time. I so sucked at math but blew out the verbal

every time so it appeared i was smarter than I actually am. So thus began my long career as an undercompensated over achiever.

[WCGreen]

6. There should be a support group....

[Wapsie B]

4. Not me.

No one told me I had any potential.

:shrug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. I am still not living up to my potential

[WCGreen]

7. Me too...

I know I have more...

But then again I am also acutely aware that in some ways I have lived way beyond my potentional...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. In my humble opinion...

You are living up to your potential...

Esp. when you consider the health issues you face...

Don't sell yourself short!

[Aristus]

8. Me. All the time.

Now I'm an uncredentialed expert on Ancient Rome, have appeared on "Jeopardy!" and now I'm getting ready to start Physician Assistant school. I'd say I've got some game. B-)

[sasquatch]

9. You peaked too soon

Come on over to Dayton and I'll show you how to deal.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

11. Dad told me I was stupid

School said I had potential.

potential for what?

being stupid?

[Sugar Smack]

12. I've heard it too many times in my life.

:grr: :nuke:

[KG]

13. well, it's true!

please don't throw anything at me! :loveya:

[Sugar Smack]

14. How about I kick you in the shins instead?

*sniff* If you'll excuse me, I have a date with Tim Robbins & Morgan (Mo) Freedman. }(

[bridgit]

15. yes, mother...

:cry:

[Mythsaje]

16. Oh, I heard it all the time.

I wonder what they'd say now.

[trof]

17. yep

Constantly in my teens.
I was a bright kid (blush), National Merit Scholar winner, but my grades sucked. I just didn't seem to give a shit until my mid 20s.
No telling why.

[Fox Mulder]

18. I tell myself that every single day.

[distantearlywarning]

19. On every report card, K-12. n/t

[LaraMN]

20. Ohhh yeah!

Read that on a lot of report cards.
I was tested for the gifted/talented program in elementary school, but didn't score high enough to get in. The director told my parents that she felt I wasn't taking the test seriously, so they had a "talk" with me. I took the test again, actually made an effort, and had no problem passing it.

That was pretty typical of much of my early academic endeavors. I didn't find school engaging or challenging, and figured I'd just do the minimum and focus on my social life. :P

[annonymous]

21. I heard that a lot as a kid

If I wasn't interested in a subject, my grades would not be that good. Also, I scored higher in verbal than math on standardized tests. My son hears it too. He has a similar problem with applying himself to subjects he doesn't like.

[EstimatedProphet]

22. I heard that one a lot

Of course it couldn't be that I was afraid to try because of all the bullies at school. No, of course it had to be because I was lazy.

[_testify_]

23. I still hear it.

I had the same experience with the standardized tests. I tested at a 12th grade reading level in 5th grade. School told my parents I should be in a school for the gifted, etc. After that...I coasted through HS and dropped out of college...ah well.

[skygazer]

24. I hated that

Made it sound like the only thing that would make me a valuable human being was to be "successful" at something I didn't feel was important. My father still uses that logic - when my sister died last year, he lamented the fact that "she was so smart, she could have done anything"... :grr:

She worked hard all her life, she had lots of friends, she was a good mom, she was generous and kind, she loved her family...

But she still wasn't good enough for him. :banghead: