What happens when the classroom “whiz kids” grow up to be just like the rest of us.
When we were growing up, there was always the group of kids that were the best at everything. Each school, youth group, or religious institution had its stars.
One was the person who aced every test and did college- or even graduate-level math or science while they were in seventh grade. You had the ones who played the piano and violin and were destined for Juilliard, and people figured they’d be the featured musician at the New York Philharmonic.
There were the athletes. They were hailed as the next Donny Baseball, Mickey Mantle, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Montana, Jesse Owens, Flo Jo, Martina Navratilova, and Steffi Graf. They always hoped scouts from the Bronx Bombers would watch them and sign them before they graduated.
Some got all the lead roles in the school musicals and counted on one day winning a Tony or Oscar. They were considered the next Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, and Glenn Close. These students were destined for Tisch School of the Arts.
There were the kids in Scouting who got every merit badge, held every position, became Eagle Scouts, or earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. For the record, I am an Eagle Scout and held most positions. I do not have every merit badge.
Some kids looked up to these whizzes. Some didn’t care.
We all remember graduation when a few got their awards, spoke and bragged about going to Harvard, and posed for pictures. Before they left for Harvard, they interned somewhere—on Wall Street, at the UN (I interned at the UN in grad school), in a legislator’s office, or in community theater.
The rest of us smiled and looked for mom and dad. We too, had plans. Some of us left for summer camp, did internships, or worked at the local fast-food joint or supermarket.
Decades later, many of us graduated from college or West Point or joined New York’s Finest or Bravest. A few went on to medical school.
We saw those who were the stars continue to shine. Some who weren’t the teen whiz kids did better or held their own. None wound up playing for the Yankees or winning a Tony. Sadly, one took his life.
Most got married and created the next batch of whiz kids. The new gang is doing well. Their parents are watching over them to make sure they have what they need.
We now know things move along, and there will be stars; just as many others will make it happen. Ultimately, most of the whiz kids ended up like the rest of us, and like Brenda and Eddie, we found a way to survive.
