Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

A Redditor's insightful message for discouraged students

reddit.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 110 posts

Re: A Redditor's insightful message for discouraged students

#11

Post by sown »

JerusaEnt wrote: post #8

I agree with him when he says that it is mostly how hard you work, dedication, and ambition. But wouldn't we just be fooling ourselves when we say it's not genetic? Maybe I'm wrong but, there are such things as kids that knowledge comes easier to, and kids that they simply can't understand something. Also, for example, a kid with ADHD is woefully behind on the "being able to sit and work" ability. I think it's nice t…

I agree with you that biology has a definite effect. However, every time I express an opinion here on HN, I get down voted into oblivion.

Re: A Redditor's insightful message for discouraged students

#12

Post by ary »

sliverstorm wrote: post #10
samuelj5 wrote: post #4

No offense but MIT is an overrated school full of losers. I know plenty of them. If you want a real education, go to Stanford, bitches.

For which program? Or is Stanford just the best school in absolutely everything?

Don't take the bait.

Re: A Redditor's insightful message for discouraged students

#13

Post by odiroot »

sown wrote: post #11
JerusaEnt wrote: post #8

I agree with him when he says that it is mostly how hard you work, dedication, and ambition. But wouldn't we just be fooling ourselves when we say it's not genetic? Maybe I'm wrong but, there are such things as kids that knowledge comes easier to, and kids that they simply can't understand something. Also, for example, a kid with ADHD is woefully behind on the "being able to sit and work" ability. I think it's nice t…

I agree with you that biology has a definite effect. However, every time I express an opinion here on HN, I get down voted into oblivion.

Same old nature vs nurture discussion. It's like with the text editors flames.

Re: A Redditor's insightful message for discouraged students

#15

Post by fvryan »

JerusaEnt wrote: post #8

I agree with him when he says that it is mostly how hard you work, dedication, and ambition. But wouldn't we just be fooling ourselves when we say it's not genetic? Maybe I'm wrong but, there are such things as kids that knowledge comes easier to, and kids that they simply can't understand something. Also, for example, a kid with ADHD is woefully behind on the "being able to sit and work" ability. I think it's nice t…

regardless of where you sit on that discussion, he was addressing a specific student who was one grade away from valedictorian and discouraged about not getting into MIT. That being said I think the advice is solid for anyone; there's only one way to find your true limit.

Re: A Redditor's insightful message for discouraged students

#16

Post by lhnz »

I wanted to cry, somebody replied: "if you could share us some of those skills."

If it was possible we would and we could all just sit back and crib each other's notes on life. But this has to come from within you. You cannot share willpower, dedication and ambition.

There's nothing else to it: it's not as if the knowledge isn't on the internet or in books for cheap...

You can mould yourself a more conscientious personality through your own ambition and the willpower you had to start with.

Re: A Redditor's insightful message for discouraged students

#17

Post by moultano »

JerusaEnt wrote: post #8

I agree with him when he says that it is mostly how hard you work, dedication, and ambition. But wouldn't we just be fooling ourselves when we say it's not genetic? Maybe I'm wrong but, there are such things as kids that knowledge comes easier to, and kids that they simply can't understand something. Also, for example, a kid with ADHD is woefully behind on the "being able to sit and work" ability. I think it's nice t…

That's one of those facts that is probably true, but not useful (at least to an individual plotting their own course.) If you feel stupid, what's the more likely thing? That you are up against a fundamental barrier, or that you haven't worked hard enough? What's the better outcome, that you knuckle down or give up?

Knowing the genetic basis for intelligence is kinda like knowing about obscure diseases. When you have the sniffles, it's probably just a cold, not lupus. When you're finding something beyond your grasp, you're probably not working hard enough, or working smart enough.

Sure, if you're a policy maker allocating budgets and looking at the population in aggregate, it makes sense to have a deep understanding of all the problems that may not be fixable. But if you're deciding what to do with yourself, why give yourself the excuse?

Re: A Redditor's insightful message for discouraged students

#18

Post by chucknthem »

Slightly off topic, but I'm sick of post titles that start with "A Redditor's ...". A title like that is just going to encourage comments and culture from reddit which is usually inappropriate here. "Redditors" are mostly normal people, "An insightful message for discouraged students" would have been a perfectly good title to this.

Re: A Redditor's insightful message for discouraged students

#19

Post by int3rnaut »

JerusaEnt wrote: post #8

I agree with him when he says that it is mostly how hard you work, dedication, and ambition. But wouldn't we just be fooling ourselves when we say it's not genetic? Maybe I'm wrong but, there are such things as kids that knowledge comes easier to, and kids that they simply can't understand something. Also, for example, a kid with ADHD is woefully behind on the "being able to sit and work" ability. I think it's nice t…

I think people with disabilities or disadvantages in whatever capacity have the ability to hack the system and find the power to overcome these issues but maybe just in a different way than someone without these problems would solve this problem. I guarantee you, there are kids like me who've gotten fantastic grades at University levels without the scholarly understanding, effort, and aptitude that other people exhibit--but we find a way (and I mean more in taking advantage of the system rather than crossing the line to cheating).

Still looking at genetics, look at height--then look at all of the athletes who've defied "sports logic" and excelled in their sport despite the naysayers and their "disadvantage"-- Muggsy Bogues, Doug Flutie, and Martin St. Louis to name a few.

I think knowledge does come easier to some kids, but there are always people with the drive, ambition, and passion that find a way to persevere despite their issue. I know it's cliche but, those that want it, find a way.

Post reply on HN