The Importance of Hard Work Over IQ: A Personal Journey

When I was five years old, my mother took me to an actual IQ test at a testing center. She never told me the results, and 10 years later, I asked her about them. Her response focused not on the score but on the value of hard work. Does she know my IQ? Let's explore this question and its implications.

Why Parents Emphasize Hard Work Over Scores

It's possible that your mother knows your IQ score, but her response suggests she may not want to emphasize it. Many parents believe that hard work and effort are more important for success than a specific number. She might be encouraging you to focus on your abilities and potential rather than a score that could be limiting or misleading. If you're truly curious about your IQ, you could consider taking another test, but remember that intelligence is multifaceted and not solely defined by a single score.

Personal Stories and Experiences

Another individual has a similar experience. They waited until they were 21 to take an IQ test at their local public library. After showing up on a Saturday, they received a yellow lapel pin a couple of weeks later, with a score of 143. In their experience, a high IQ score did not guarantee anything. They noted that a 143 score and a lapel pin were not enough to secure a cup of coffee at a café.

Many people respond with the same sentiment, saying, "it doesn't really matter what you scored, etc. etc." The bigger issue is that their mom won't answer the question. She's being evasive to a very personal question to which she knows the answer.

Reasons for Seeking IQ Scores

Why do you want to know your IQ score? It sounds very important to you since it's been a constant thought in your mind for two-thirds of your life! Are you curious about whether your mother knows the score, or are you curious about the number itself?

I found out my IQ when I was 15, and I'm now over sixty. Knowing the score made me feel weird. I started comparing myself with friends and classmates, teachers, and other adults in my life, but it served no purpose. Did I need to know the number? You most likely already have a very good idea of your functional intelligence relative to the kids in your class. Would obtaining the test results from when you were five, which are no longer very relevant, make your life better or happier?

The Value of Letting Go

Letting go of an idea that has been with you for a long time can be very difficult. Sometimes it's important to hold onto it, but more often, letting it go is a shortcut to personal growth and happiness.

From a developmental perspective, IQ tests are not everything. Being a nice person is also important and is hard to measure. Your mother's response was likely to help you focus on qualities that go beyond a single number and to appreciate the journey of personal growth rather than the destination of a test score.

Remember, every individual is unique, and intelligence is multifaceted. Emphasizing hard work and personal growth can lead to a happier and more fulfilling life, regardless of IQ scores.