#31: Smart but Lazy
I’ve talked a lot in this article about being a smart and diligent kid when I was in school, and that was largely true. But, full confession time: by my junior year of high school, I started getting really lazy. I was one of those much-talked-about smart but lazy kids who stopped trying because I seemed to coast through most classes.
Of course, then I hit college, and the rigors of college-level courses smacked me out of my complacency. Still, I really identify with this confession. There are teachers who will absolutely let you coast if you’re smart and well-behaved. But there are other teachers who will actually insist on you making an effort, and those are the ones who will actually help you learn. Even if their tough love does mean that you get a B- in chemistry.