Intelligence, to me, means a number of things. When you think of intelligence you automatically think about book smart. Someone who tests well, gets good grades, ends up with a scholarship to some top tier college. The government defines intelligence this way and measures it with these state tests, and official IQ tests. Because of that, most people do as well.
But intelligence can also be defined and measured a different way. A very big thing, for me, is emotional intelligence. It's something I've always kind of struggled with, so when someone automatically knows what to do in an emotional situation, I always view them as smart. I think there's a study out there that states the more book smart you are, the less emotional intelligence you have. High IQ, Low EQ- or Emotional Quotient.
I've always tested well but when it comes to emotional things, I'm always totally lost. I have no idea what to do when someone cries or is angry. I don't know how to respond to, what I usually see as, excessive happiness. I do well with panic attacks, but only because I know the science and psychology aspects of it. So, to me, intelligence is also knowing what to do in those kinds of situations.
Another kind of intelligence is street smart, something else I'm lacking in. Street smart is knowing how to read a person, a situation, a room. When to stay and fight or when to run. Sensing a dangerous situation and taking the necessary steps to prevent getting into one. I'm far too curious for my own good. While someone who is street smart might see a dark and mysterious alley and think "don't go down there, go the other way", I'm already halfway down there. Basically, I'm the girl in the horror film getting murdered first because she followed the creepy noise into the basement.
I think intelligence can be measured in lots of different ways, depending on who you are and what your life is like. Book smart, emotionally smart, street smart. Even other ways like being business smart, smart about responsibilities, or even being artistically smart. Painters, writers, musicians. They're all very smart in their own right. Some are even categorized as geniuses.
Intelligence is defined and measured the way you want to define and measure it. It's subjective. I really like that. Anyone could be a genius that way. Even me
- to be smart
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Big F**king Mood: A New Narrative
Non-FictionA series of thoughts, questions, lists, rants, daydreams, and confessions. TRIGGER WARNINGS: mentions of depression, anxiety, bullying, and sexual harassment.
