I think Math is the key differentiator. I saw my equally neurodivergent and artistic daughter stumble at Math just like I did at exactly the same age in middle school. It was fucking Algebra! We both didn’t have the most engaging teachers, were both easily distracted, and naturally both started failing in Math, just 30 years apart. I couldn’t memorize those damn equations no matter how hard I tried! My kid went even further to the point of hating Math, and thinking herself as less intelligent for not being able to understand it.

What helped me was my dad holding my hand and showing me that Math is a system that I can understand if I just applied myself. We are actually great at applying ourselves and thinking logically, so Math will come easy once we get over the initial hurdle. Of course I did my job as a dad too and became the supportive Math teacher that my kid needed me to be. My daughter also got over that hurdle, but many of her friends from that middle school that also stumbled at Math, did not get the support systems that they needed to get over the hump. As a result, all those poor kids will go their entire lives underestimating themselves, and thinking themselves as just weirdos instead of the geniuses that they likely are. It makes me mad.

The actual genius of neurodivergent folks lies not only in 1) being able to apply ourselves and thinking logically, but also in 2) how we thoroughly learn any system (like math, music, language, technology, tools etc) - we are slow because we take our time to poke around and double check every single scenario and calculation, but once we master it, we’re sure of every little aspect of that system, our opinions as good as facts, not open for argument or debate, 3) how we connect multiple such systems to solve complex problems, much like the geniuses of history - pattern recognition and strong observational abilities allow us to view problems ahead of time and from a higher vantage point - we see the forest too, and not just the trees, and 4) our higher sensitivity, awareness, and empathy naturally lead us to face head-on the true realities of all human condition, and prioritizing it over all the worldly facade of the status quo.

PS: I say neurodivergent as an umbrella term for ADHD, ASD, BPD, anxiety and whatnot because 1) who knows which exact condition causes which specific behavior, and 2) they tend to co-exist, different potion combinations make different magic.

I got both.

First one, then the other.

I’m probably still just as smart but it’s been years since I’ve felt …sharp. I always feel so behind now. However in that time I’ve shifted from mask my everything always, to not masking at all, pretty much ever. And I’m weird. Not in a showy sort of way like my sibling who figured all attention was good attention (single mother was emotionally cold and negligent, probably un-dx ‘tism), but just… not being concerned at all with what some rando thinks.

It’s a good balance I think. I’m still full of information and weird connections between disparate fields/info, but I also learned to give zero fucks what people think (I wasn’t good at fitting in anyway so meh)

I’m the genius (not quite prodigy) and my gf is the genius prodigy type.

We’re either going to get arrested or take over the world.

Y’all will find out how it’s been for me I guess.