Sometimes you get hit by a wave of curiosity, wondering where that one person from school is now. Social media has done wonders to allow us to keep in touch, even when we maybe would prefer to keep our distance, but sometimes it can be interesting to hear others’ experiences.
A netizen wanted to hear others’ stories about where the “smart kid” from school ended up after everyone graduated. From brilliant careers, and weird turns to tragedy, the internet delivered, so prepare to sift through a multitude of human experiences, be sure to upvote your favorites and comment your own tales below. We also got in touch with therapist and neuroscientist Bobbi Banks to learn more.
More info: Bobbi Banks | Instagram
#1
He went to Harvard Law School then moved back and created a startup that helps make healthcare accessible in disadvantaged communities. Was a great guy then and great guy now.
Image source: Strict_Bar_4915, Andrea Piacquadio
#2
That was me. I’m now a stay-at-home dad of four wonderful kids and in a loving, sixteen year marriage. My wife is my best friend. While I may not have reached my full potential academically, I’m happy. Very happy. I realized that life is too short to care about anything other than living my life the way that I want to, not the way that I’m expected to.
Image source: MielikkisChosen, Tatiana Syrikova
#3
I amounted to nothing.
Is what most people would say looking at me. But the truth is I am living a satisfying and happy life, no debt because I chose not to go to college, a wonderful woman who is madly in love with me and I her, and I enjoy my free time doing what I love. I’m happy. I’m not rich. I don’t have a prestigious job or title, but I am legitimately satisfied with life.
I win.
Image source: Select-Prior-8041
#4
Smartest guy from my high school became an actual rocket scientist.
Image source: TheKaptinKirk, Pixabay
#5
Dropped out of college to marry and support the much younger woman he got pregnant. Now (30 years later) owns a boardgame store with a large back room for mini painting and games and plays dad to half the neurodivergent kids in town. Still married to the same woman too. It’s not a high flying life but he makes a difference to so many people.
To make y’all feel better: He was 23 I think and she was 18, a big age gap when you’re young. It was also in the Netherlands, were at least at the time (I’ve been gone a while) we didn’t really care so much as long as it wasn’t a 10 year difference or one of them was under 15. Teenagers have sex drives, it happens.
Image source: Yinnesha, Gustavo Fring
#6
Superstar pediatric neurosurgeon.
Most confident person I’ve ever met. (Guess you’d have to be, to cut open a little kid’s skull and operate on their brain.)
Image source: Rainpickle, JAFAR AHMED
#7
That was me! Or smartest as in best achieving academically. Went on to uni and studied history and a masters in medieval history, graduated both top of the class. Everyone expected me to do a PhD but I found academics too lonely and wanted to have a more social workplace so became a history teacher in high school instead and love it!
Image source: Jealous-Proof5505, fauxels
#8
There were two. They were twins. They’re both geneticists now with PHDs, and they work at the same university.
Image source: iARTthere4iam, Pavel Danilyuk
#9
He went to MIT, works for Apple, and has a very expensive home in California. He also has a wife and 4 kids and seems to be very happy. I remember he was programming games in high school and was valedictorian. A big nerd who became a wealthy big nerd.
Image source: BullHorn100, zhang kaiyv
#10
Guy had 3 scholarship offers, lasted 1 year in uni before jumping off a building. Feel sorry for him and his family.
Image source: ObscureAbsurdity, Download a pic Donate a buck! ^
#11
Died from a brain tumour right after he graduated high school. He was dang smart. Could play the piano upside down too.
Image source: crimesteak, cottonbro studio
#12
She got a PhD is Neuroscience from Stanford and I think she’s a professor or associate professor somewhere now. She was possibly the sweetest girl I’d ever met. I was an intelligent underachiever, and ended up in a few AP courses with her because our teachers saw my test scores and refused to continue to let me do dips**t things with my dips**t friends; she was always super proud of me when I actually showed up and put some effort in and, Lo and behold, got excellent marks. Honestly she really turned around the last 2 years of HS for me. Also she’s wicked hot now. A hot genius.
Image source: MrFifty-Fifty, Andrea Piacquadio
#13
I ended up being a drug addict and a cook at a bar. Being smart doesn’t do anything if it just drives you to insecurity and depression, except make you loathe yourself for not living up to your potential.
Image source: LegendaryUser
#14
Not my class but the one above me, and it was my brother. He was superlative winner: best smile, most likely to be famous, likely to succeed, best dressed, most likely to be famous, etc… the school made him pick two. He also won prom king and fulfilled all his projected roles.
As his little sister, my big brother is my absolute HERO of a human all around. He is a PA making bank, drives a cool car, humble af, has a beautiful gf I hope to call my SIL one day.
Me? I got “seinoritis” and the school had to call my Mom to let me know I needed to show up for superlative pics lol. I’m an artist. I work with rockstars on the spectrum. I have a hundred plants and solo travel to go hiking. Imo, WE made it. All the money in the world wouldn’t put me through his academic endurance. He is such a great role model, I’m so blessed to have him as my big brother and best friend. He calls me for his mental turmoils and I make time. I call him when I made a new art/plant sale. Our relationship is unmatched.
Image source: SachiKaM
#15
He’s in jail for murder. Came as a surprise.
Image source: I_am_Korpse, Donald Tong
#16
He is currently an aerospace engineer who played a big role in the engineering of the Canadarm.
Image source: ketchupforall, wikipedia
#17
I believe he works for NASA. He deleted his Facebook a while ago (like the smartest kid in our class would do), but that’s what he was doing last I checked.
Image source: gingeritis90, Pixabay
#18
He got his PhD in engineering, started his own company, and was a multimillionaire by 45.
Image source: ratherBwarm, Ono Kosuki
#19
Disappeared into a shadowy government job. *poof* gone.
Image source: mostofyouarefools, Marco Oriolesi
#20
Crushed under the weight of expectations and mental illness he burned out and works call centers now instead of his full potential.
Image source: scipio0421
#21
She married a religious fruitcake 12 years older than she was almost immediately after graduation and started pumping out kids. Never went to college. Has never had a job. Spends her days on Facebook shaming people for being sinners.
Image source: Patricio_Guapo, Camylla Battani
#22
He was an idealist, became a priest and served in the Vatican, became disillusioned and left the church, got two masters degrees, and died by his own hand. He was a truly good person who couldn’t marry his ideals with the reality of the church.
Image source: vyprrgirl, Oleksandr Canary Islands
#23
All the pressure made me have a mental break down in college. I was diagnosed with many illnesses mentally. Finished my first round with a 3.98.
Got diagnosed with fibromyalgia. F****d my body and memory so bad i had to quit my job working at our doctor’s office. Developed severe myofascial pelvoc pain syndrome.
I lost everything. Including my husband. He cheated and left because not working made me not part of the team.
I wish I put more effort into experiences rather than education as now I’m disabled and it all feels pointless and worthless as I’m in debt I can’t work out of.
Image source: Unable-Indication-94
#24
He went to ace the board exam… twice in two different fields. I couldn’t be prouder. Most importantly, he became my boyfriend and changed many perspectives I had in life. I’d have never lived up to this day were it not for him, and I hope I did (and still do) my best to care for him the same. It wasn’t always shiny days. He had very depressive episodes, with lots of doubts and being forced to face heavy pressure. We had a toxic relationship in between and a lot of things weren’t healthy at all. I even projected a lot of insecurities, especially being with this very intelligent person compared to my “inferior self”. Imagine hormones and adulting mixing up, wow. Fortunately, we are in a sooo much better state right now. Man, was it a journey. We changed and developed as our own individuals, with lots of moments shared together. I’m lucky to have him. I don’t care if he’s smart or whatever, he’s fcking funny and is able to listen to me rant about whatever favorite thing I have for the day. He’s not a cat person, but damn I’m trying to convert him through the cat subreddits here. And I’ll be here for him.
Image source: y8man
#25
He moved to Poland and became a Molecular Biologist.
Image source: AJCleary, Edward Jenner
#26
She’s a professor at Oxford University.
Image source: MWH901, Antoni Shkraba
#27
She worked at John’s Hopkins doing research with Psilocybin.
Image source: ActorMonkey
#28
After never having even smoked a cigarette or drank alcohol in high school, straight As all the way through, he got a full ride to a really good university. As a freshman he dropped acid, walked out in front of a car and was killed.
Image source: DancesWithTrout
#29
[EDIT: Let me correct my post. She married the now SECOND richest man. It’s hard to keep up with the billionaires and how fast their interest doubled their wealth over the pandemic 🙄]
She married the (now) richest man in the world. Divorced him and is now the 4th richest human. Not bad.
Image source: LuckyGirl1003
#30
She became an right wing religious fanatic with 9 kids.
Image source: cronic_chaos, Marisa Howenstine
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