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Mine was one of those over-praise situations. I was in a special school for gifted kids and skipped grades so I "knew I was smart"... but I always felt like an imposter just faking it and I always felt like I'd be found out.

I think being identified as "smart" actually hindered my progress because I was so afraid of screwing up and having people find out that I actually wasn't smart.

My husband had a lot of trouble because of his accent when he first moved back to the states in elementary school. He'd been ahead a grade but then held back once he moved to the US. He's super smart though, he did sound like he had attitude as a kid though which sometimes got in the way of being a 'smart' kid getting good grades.

I was always a 'smart kid'. My parents are both in education so I came into elementary school already knowing lots of math and how to read. And I would just work through my mom's math books for fun and I loved to read so I was kinda a nerd and put more time into school then most kids. My parents thought skipping grades was a bad idea so they tried to make separate enrichment programs for me and this other kid, so the school kinda singled us out as the smart kids which made everyone else think of us like that too.

I think high expectations helped.

People did, though I'm not sure why. My grades hardly warranted it! I happened to be BFFs with the people who really were book smart and I liked nerdy things. That must have been enough. I guess I'm a relatively intelligent person, but it can take me a long time to absorb/master new info and situations.

I was considered smart, but I almost feel like I was labeled smart by default. My elementary school was in an underprivileged area and I think a lot of the other kids didn't have the home life that encouraged reading etc that I had. By grade 7, I was in a bigger school and there were a lot of very smart kids. So, I'd say I was smart, but definitely not med-student-getting-all-the-scholarships smart.

@mrbee: wow. i'm surprised you survived as well.

I was, especially compared to my sister I was just very well spoken and knew a lot of things at a young age.

During high school and college people always under estimated my intelligence. I don't know whether I just don't brag or I act like a ditz but people are shocked when they find out my grades or academic achievements

In high school I was sent to tutor some of my friends in math. They laughed and asked the teacher why I was tutoring them. He said "well she has a A in AP calculus and you have an F in algebra, I think that makes her qualified."

In college at graduation they had all the cum laude and magna cum laude stand. When I stood my friends all looked at my like I was crazy. Luckily one of my friends said " well I guess all those times I got c's and you got a's added up huh?"

I was above average and usually in the Gifted or advanced programs in middle and high school. I was decently smart, but LAZY. But I was only OK at math, and BAD at science... not typical for an Asian

@Boogs: It didn't help me either to be pulled out of class to go to the 'smart kids' class once a week. It was so embarrassing to be pointed out like that!

@Bookworm: Exactly! I just wanted to hang out with my classmates.

Yes. My parents expectations helped push me. I didn't really care what everyone else thought.

yeah, but it was because i was in GATE classes and other advanced placement stuff. i actually got in trouble a lot for talking during class because i would finish my work so quickly and then want to talk to my friends. it made my mom crazy that i had high scores and then low scores with behavior. i think she wanted them to give me more work to keep me busy!

Yes, I've always been a big ol' nerd. When I was young I was that annoying kid whose hand shot up in the air desperately wanting to answer every question. In 7th grade I was not voted "Most Academic" for the yearbook and was really upset about it, and I was voted it the next year. (!) Oh well. I've learned to become less socially awkward about it, and I'm totally okay with being a nerd!

Also, while my parents of course wanted me to do my best, they never put any pressure on me. I'm a type-A perfectionist and put all the pressure on myself. Fortunately I'm more laid-back now.