I recently took the GRE so I could apply to a graduate program. I felt nervous and anxious about how I would do before I took it. Everyone kept assuring me that I would do great because I was “so smart.” I don’t deny that academic things come easier for me than others, and I don’t take that for granted, but it bothered me that with that statement they were denying all of the work that I had put in.
I spent my summer getting up at 6 in the morning so I could study for 1.5-2 hours without my kids interrupting me. I haven’t been in school for a LONG time and my memory was a little rusty when it came to remembering math equations, figuring out complicated problems, studying complicated text passages, and writing analytical essays. I knew that if I wanted to do well, I would have to put in the work.
It wasn’t fun. In fact it was hard, and humbling, and I often felt the opposite of “so smart.”
I got my official results yesterday and did really well on two of the sections. And while I do acknowledge that learning these things comes easier to me than others, the reason why I felt like crying when I saw my scores is because it felt like all of my hard work had paid off. You can be smart, but if you don’t also work hard, it won’t get you anywhere.
Work In Progress 