#false-fronts

I realized early in life that I respect intelligence.  Not the sort of “I have a PhD from Harvard” type of intelligence, but a different variety.

What I have come to deem as intelligence seems to line up with the *actual* definition of the word.  I respect an individual’s ability to acquire and apply knowledge. 

This sounds straight-forward enough.

I don’t respect people who just go to school.  I always joke that anyone can get a degree if they go to class, do their work, take their tests and PAY for it.  Those people aren’t necessarily good at what they have their degree in…hell, they may not even remember the bulk of their degree (cram it/pass it/forget it)…

Let me expand upon this. 

Say you sign up for a college course.  You attend class every day, study and take your tests.  You get an A.  This, although nothing to balk about, is not what impresses me.  This shows you have dedication, motivation and perseverance.

What impresses me is the inherent, un-manipulated, effortless ability to obtain knowledge.  Say you sign up for a college course (in a topic that doesn’t require TALENT, like the arts).  You attend class 1/3 of the time, you don’t study and you just take your tests.  You get a passing grade.  (Depending on the course difficulty) That impresses me.  Just… knowledge acquisition with minimal effort.  The ability to do this with any class in any field (or just in life in general)…that is the “intelligence” that impresses me.

The type of person who, when slacking, is able to keep up with everyone else.  The type of person who has never done something before and can be trained extremely quickly to be proficient in a job. The type of person who has a mental capacity that is just staggering when you contemplate it.  The person who wakes up in the morning and thinks to themselves, “What am I going to do with myself today?” and KNOWS that the only limitation is one they place on themselves…because they could literally accomplish almost anything if they *just* set their mind to it (physical restrictions exempt, of course). 

It is one thing to wake up in the morning and think: “I’m going to become a doctor!” and then try really hard to become one…and another to think with the confidence and knowledge that it’s completely true: “well, I could be a doctor if I wanted to…but I think I’ll play video games and watch porn instead.” 

That being said, intelligence isn’t what makes a person – so if you don’t rank high on the Miki-Intelligence-Factor (MIF) scale, don’t fret.  You *may* have other redeeming qualities.