Every high school had that one kid everyone was convinced would go far. They barely seemed to break a sweat over exams, had teachers singing their praises, and looked like they already had their future mapped out while everyone else was still figuring out what they wanted for lunch.
We found stories from former classmates who looked back and learned what became of the kids they once thought had the world at their feet. Grab a snack and scroll down to see how some of these high school stars turned out.
#41
One of my best friends, graduated top of our class and got a perfect score on his ACT. Got the national merit scholarship. Instead of going to college for biomed right after high school like he had planned, went on a 2 year mission trip to Jamaica and went into the nonprofit world as soon as he got home.
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5points
#42
He was one of my best friends, absolutely brilliant at every subject. He decided to study History and later specialized in Asian History. He worked at a local museum before his PhD.
I’m not sure what he’s doing now, which is a sign that I should probably reach out. Miss him a lot.
I’m not sure what he’s doing now, which is a sign that I should probably reach out. Miss him a lot.
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5points
#43
Moderately successful commercial insurance agent that wasted a lot of time early in his life. Type of kid that fell asleep during the ACT after partying the night before and still scored in the 30s. Dropped out of college despite full ride + a stipend, bounced around jobs with nothing steady or promising due to depression and ADHD he never actually got under control until later on life.
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4points
#44
Ours was the kind of kid everyone assumed would cure cancer. Last I heard, he’s working a completely ordinary office job and seems perfectly happy.
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4points
#47
Paul. Stanford PHD in Quantum Mechanics. Exec at Tech company. Proud of you bro!
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4points
#48
Her name was Janine and last I heard, she was going to Stanford University. I haven't kept track of her since then but if I recall correctly, she was going into a science field.
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4points
#50
A friend of mine, he is not just smart, he also has good social skill. He only has bachelor degree from one of the most reputable university in my country. He is now working for an international company, married, one kid, has a good life from my perspective.
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4points
#51
Had a perfect score on the SAT in 7th Grade.
Full ride to Stanford.
Was an executive for Apple and Google in a span of 10-15 years after graduating college.
I went to one of the highest achieving schools in the country, but she was on a completely different level than everyone else. It was fascinating.
Full ride to Stanford.
Was an executive for Apple and Google in a span of 10-15 years after graduating college.
I went to one of the highest achieving schools in the country, but she was on a completely different level than everyone else. It was fascinating.
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4points
#52
There was this guy who was unbelievably good at literally every class, top of the class, top of the whole school even, and everyone thought he was going to go to engineering or something like that because it's the thing everyone expects from super smart people but he went and studied linguistics, last i heard he is fluid in 3 languages and is traveling the world.
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4points
#53
He developed schizophrenia while in college, dropped out, and now lives with his parents who care for him.
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4points
#54
For me it was a guy who flew under the radar and was incredibly brilliant. In high school, he programmed Zelda into his Texas Instruments graphing calculator played it during lunch. He is now a ranking member of the U.S. Army.
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3points
#55
Went to Harvard. Accomplished a lot of things. Is probably famous in his niche technical field but is not a household famous name.
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3points
#56
His name was Brandon Gomes. Out of high school he went to work with a particle accelerator. Then he suddenly vanished and was never seen again, still missing to this day. You can google his name.
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3points
#57
Dropped out of college. Discharged from the army for mental health issues. On the registry for repeated public exhibitionsim that started in his 20s and has persisted over 20 years. Never held more than minimum wage food service jobs. Probably unemployed or barely employed for past 20 years. Was homeless and living in shelters (or in jail) for at least the past 20 years. Now has an apartment in a lousy town. Each year, a new picture of him appears on the registry page. Sad to see his decline. His crimes are abhorrent, but before that, he was a brilliant and actually nice person.
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3points
#59
Here's a rundown on the smartest people in my high school graduating class of approximately 350 students.
*1 had a nervous breakdown freshman year in college, got married soon thereafter, and sank from sight.
*2 are deceased.
*11 graduated college and have/had successful, meaningful careers in various fields.
*1 earned a law degree and became a Republican legislator. In other words, wasted her talents.
*3 earned doctorates and are now practicing medicine, teaching classics, and studying astronomy, respectively.
*1 earned a doctorate and is now working in government.
*5 earned professional certifications and have meaningful careers, mainly in the legal and medical professions.
*2 dropped out of college and are now pursuing meaningful careers in non-traditional occupations.
*5 finished college and are now pursuing meaningful careers in non-traditional occupations.
*2 vanished.
*1 pursued a career in TV writing/directing/showrunning and recently married a supermodel/actress.
*Too many to count thought they were hot shots, went to a state university, and graduated but never lived up to their potential.
I am one of the above who beat the odds and succeeded despite generally low peer expectations.
*1 had a nervous breakdown freshman year in college, got married soon thereafter, and sank from sight.
*2 are deceased.
*11 graduated college and have/had successful, meaningful careers in various fields.
*1 earned a law degree and became a Republican legislator. In other words, wasted her talents.
*3 earned doctorates and are now practicing medicine, teaching classics, and studying astronomy, respectively.
*1 earned a doctorate and is now working in government.
*5 earned professional certifications and have meaningful careers, mainly in the legal and medical professions.
*2 dropped out of college and are now pursuing meaningful careers in non-traditional occupations.
*5 finished college and are now pursuing meaningful careers in non-traditional occupations.
*2 vanished.
*1 pursued a career in TV writing/directing/showrunning and recently married a supermodel/actress.
*Too many to count thought they were hot shots, went to a state university, and graduated but never lived up to their potential.
I am one of the above who beat the odds and succeeded despite generally low peer expectations.
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3points
#60
I don’t know if I was the smartest, but I was the top student and now I’m in medical school.
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3points
