Degrees of Intelligence

To have an IQ test predict my future is not something to put all my faith into. We, as human beings, are the most intelligent animals on the planet, and that alone is something to be proud of. Since the ice age, hominids, and everything else in this world, have had to evolve because of the changes that occurred around them. Ice age hominids weren’t near as intelligent as we are today, but somehow they had to become more intelligent.

The hominids didn’t become smarter at birth. For example, I was born I with learning disabilities so if I become an expert in astronomy, does that mean I lack intelligence? Successfully intelligent people discern their strengths and weaknesses, and then figure out how to capitalize on their strengths and to compensate for or re mediate their weaknesses.

Intelligent individuals succeed in part because they achieve a functional balance among different abilities to analyze, evaluate, judge, compare, and contrast, to create, invent, discover, and imagine, to apply, utilize, implement, and activate. Intelligent people are not necessarily high in all theses abilities but find a way to exploit whatever abilities they may have.

An IQ test can mostly tell people of the challenges that will occurs in their education and all the other normal learning of everyday life. If an IQ test score results in having a good understanding with numbers, than that person may not have much difficulty in math. A lower IQ individual can peruse and achieve those same dreams as a person with normal IQ. The limitations would be the person’s ambitions, determination, and self-esteem. With these characteristics, which are gained from the environment provided in adolescence, a person could acquire an education to be proud of. Having a productive and intelligent lifestyle is possible for most people if they set their mind to it. A person’s genetic design is important, but how people apply themselves is more important.

When I was about eight years old, I was tested for learning disabilities because I was not working at the same pace as the other children. My IQ test score came out lower than normal. A meeting was held with the principal, my parents, and me. As I sat and listened with shame, the principal told my parents that I was extremely slow and had poor learning abilities. I was put in special education classes that separated me from my classmates most of the school day. I was never able to catch up because I was always learning at a slower rate then the rest of my class. I should have been working on different ways of learning so I could be with my classmates. The other kids knew why I had to leave the room and I was teased frequently. This created a poor self-esteem image for me. I did poorly though school, and it was not until I was an adult that I found guidance to help my ways of learning. I have achieved just as many things as a person with normal learning abilities. I know now that I am intelligent.
    In order to back up my theories on the subject of intelligence, I have included some professional authors opinions. Howard Gardner, the writer of an article called, “Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligence”, talks about how an IQ test cant determine what a persons educated mind can retain or predict successful future. The are teachers that will treat students differently because of their IQ test score being less than normal for most children their age. Perhaps in some cases, this could make the teacher underestimate these children’s true potential. People of all ages an cultures have different expectations placed upon them that can be achieved according the lifestyle. All theses people have learned things that may seem difficult to others around the world. Everyone is different and should not be judged so hardly on a mental scale in hopes of being equal to what society say they should be.