intelligence

At primary school I was effectively told I was stupid, again and again, to the point that I actually believed it. I passed my eleven plus, but ended up going to a Secondary as it was made clear that I "wouldn't cope". In secondary school I was tested for dyslexia but I wasn't and they never even thought to look for ASD, I came away with 9 GCSE A*-C (1 D) and three of those were A*, but socially not comfortable and utterly hating education which is why I never did A-Levels or University.

As an adult I've done the MENSA IQ test and I'l eligible for admittance if I wanted to join (my Cattell was 156). I spend my early twenties struggling with work until I found my way through a bit of luck, then in my early thirties I set up my own company and now in my mid thirties I'm set and comfortable.

Part of my problem was always been told I wasn't bright enough, I wasn't intelligent etc. I ended up believing this, I thought I was stupid, wasn't good enough etc. What changed that with GCSEs was one good teacher who sparked it and showed me I was and that really helped, it then carried over into other subjects, however some teachers still seemed to resent that I wasn't thick as they had spent so long believing that I was.

You need to find your area, the subject or skill that suits you, the one that lets you be who you are and shows off the best of your abilities. It helps if it's something you enjoy, but that's not essential.

I was almost the opposite of this. I was identified as high academic ability at primary school, particularly in mathematics, science, and computers. The result of this was that SEN support and services were very limited because I had exceeded the National Curriculum targets for my year groups in literacy and numeracy. Teachers even said that I was too clever for my own good. If I had problems with reading, or spelling, or maths then all the help and support in the world would be available but there was no help and support for problems resulting from then undiagnosed AS. I was also accused as being lazy or slackassed with low standards, and told to pull my socks up and play my cards right, or even accused of attention seeking. 

At college I got 3 A grade A Levels in STEM subjects.

I was almost the opposite of this. I was identified as high academic ability at primary school, particularly in mathematics, science, and computers. The result of this was that SEN support and services were very limited because I had exceeded the National Curriculum targets for my year groups in literacy and numeracy. Teachers even said that I was too clever for my own good. If I had problems with reading, or spelling, or maths then all the help and support in the world would be available but there was no help and support for problems resulting from then undiagnosed AS. I was also accused as being lazy or slackassed with low standards, and told to pull my socks up and play my cards right, or even accused of attention seeking. 

At college I got 3 A grade A Levels in STEM subjects.

I'm another one whose academic career has been up and down many times with wrong choices being made.

Doing well at times has led to more social problems for me.

On one college course I did an assignment so well, I received 100% and the lecturer admitted to me that my solution was better than his own.  My assignment was given out as the specimen solution.

BUT.... I did it on a word processor and I included my details ( name, student id in the footer).  Other students noticed.  NOBODY spoke to me for over a week.

 I didn't get to fly until I hit university as was held back at school as streamed into a middle ability group as being so shy they thought that "would help me get out of my shell" - it just made me frustrated completing class work in half the time and not being stretched at all... 

finished my post grad qual last year....this years project is self....but I hope to embark on a Phd.