Hey Pandas, What Was Your “Damn I’m Smart” Moment?

I used to be fairly close to photographic memory. I studied the night before a test or exam and that was that. In some ways it was bad because I never put true effort into my schooling. Who knows where I would be now if I had?!

And yes, it’s too late. I lost the ability after a nervous breakdown and diagnosed with ME/CFS. Brain fog and trauma is very real.

I miss that talent. :(

Not sure it this would be smart or skilled but my final bass guitar lesson. I had been learning for 6 months. I went through the entire lesson in about ten minutes and played it perfectly. I had twenty more minutes to go so my teacher asked me if I had heard anything on the radio I wanted to learn. I picked My Sharona. He quickly ran through the bass line and I nailed it instantly. He told me I didn't need lessons anymore and that anything else I was going to learn would be on my own.

Not sure if it's question of being smart...
Watching The Usual Suspects : when Kevin Spacey started to talk, I immediately knew Kayser Söze didn't exist. As I was told that I would be surprised by the scenario, I was very disappointed by the end, so predictable for me.

When I attended a lecture about quantum physics and wormholes and what have you, given by a scientist who could be considered my country's equivalent of Neil deGrasse Tyson. Foolishly, I already felt sorta smart just for attending, but it was his answer to a question I asked that made me pat my own back self-importantly. He said something along the lines of, "That's a brilliant question... which I can't answer, because I've never thought about that aspect. I'll have to give it some serious thought." I walked out several feet taller than I was when I arrived. :) (I can barely put two and two together, so the whole thing is a mystery to me. Maybe he was just being kind.)

I got a 4 on my AP US History exam (the best score you can get is a 5).

When I realized I'm bilingual, just because of my mom constantly scolding me for speaking in English but sometimes I can't control it. Not that smart but definitley something hard for me, and now I forget words in both languages lol (my native one is Spanish)

when i scored a twelfth grade reading score on my standardized tests in third grade lmao

When I maxed out the math FSA in fourth grade. Got an award and everything for it (don't have a photo sadly). It was insane because we're s**t at math so like-

I did the UK prison officer entrance intelligence test. Of 25+ in the room most were called up and left, I was one of about half a dozen left. We were told that the failures had left, then the supervisor called my name, said mine was the highest score he had ever seen.

the couple of times I knew the answer to the Final Question on Jeoparty when none of the contestants knew. But I don't know how to use spell check.

Passing Gymi-Test. In Switzerland, This Test id the absolute test to test them all in 6th grade. It's German and Math. Got 5.44/6

I can Speak Arabic, English and German almost perfectly (native is Arabic) I am also learning french.

may not sound like much but when i graduated from college with three degrees and with honors. i had barely managed to graduate high school so that put me of pursuing a higher education. i had a son when i was 21. at the time, i was working in construction and making good money but it was hard work and sometimes not very steady. when i was 28 i decided to go back to school so i could provide better for my son. i was terrified the day i took my college entrance exam as it had been 10 yrs since i had been in school. to my surprise i scored extremely high in all areas except in math where it showed i had a 3rd grade level in that subject. because of that i was considered a "disabled" student which meant i could be accepted into the college with the provision of taking very very basic math classes and work to get up to speed by the end of my first year. not only did i manage to do that but i ended up on the dean's list every semester and graduated with a 3.8 grade point average. i was also surprised at the ceremony to be presented with a traditional prestigious award that the professors elected to present. it blew me away

I was the only one in my class to get 100% on my Spanish final :)

When I was taking Organic Chemistry in undergrad and worked my behind off to get a 3.5 / 4.0 grade. I took three tests and got 72, 72, 72 (out of 100) on each. I got 151 (out of 200) on the final. 3.5 / 4.0. I learned that I was the last person to get a 3.5 and it was by two points.
I was bragging to my roommate. He, politely, informed me that he took Organic Chemistry as a freshman FOR FUN. He was a dual Math / Physics major but thought Organic looked fun. He averaged 104% on the exams because one test had a 10 point extra credit problem.
I was exceedingly happy with my 72%. I was a Chemistry major and got a Ph.D. in Chemistry but my buddy can wipe the floor with my hard working behind. There is always someone smarter than you.

I used to sit across the table from a colleague who would work the daily crossword puzzle on lunch break. She always made sure she had a pencil with an eraser. I always worked in with her, reading upside down, and putting in answers. In ink. Smart? Yes, but even more of a smart*ss!

When I married my wife.

Putting together something from Ikea without instructions

One thing yall dont know is i hate to read....

Its not an boring book thing just a noninterest i have...

So here it is english class, junior year, at this point ive gotten good at not reading the assigned book while making it seem i read the assigned book...

Me and my friend, prep for the end of unit test, she studies her hardest while i slack off scrolling bp...

Test...

She scores an 88-92 i score a 94-96...

Now i feel bad cause she studied so hard for an 90 :c

When I realized I'm bilingual. Not necessarily smart, but was surprised I could pull both in less than a second since it's too hard for me to keep up with things like this. So I can proudly say I know my English and now I forget words in both languages lol