Coincidentally, he was one of the "smart kids" that I had accidentally bumped out of a gifted program a few years prior. He went to a different school for a couple of years and then came back. I had opted out of the gifted program. No other students got a chance.
(Thinking....)
When I really think about it... technically I destroyed opportunities for other kids and didn't even take it in the end.
I was today years old when I really realized something.
Picture the kid with the orange shirt about two shades browner, a mole on his cheek, and insanely thick glasses.
Then picture him goth/punk
I beat him in several competitions... spelling... reading... science... he was better at math usually.
My outlook on life was a little nihilistic. Everything was kinda pointless and I didn't care and usually put in minimal effort.
He went goth/punk/emo and made an attempt to reconnect by studying with me in a way that I didn't really consider as studying.
I was always going off and doing other research that wasn't assigned. Generally bored with everything. I used to learn quickly.
He couldn't beat me and inevitably joined me... but I never really saw it.
His face when I got to the next round in a spelling bee and he didn't and I told him I tried to fail because I wasn't about to go on stage... to which the next round I spelled everything wrong and made everyone disappointed because I refused to go to nationalis.
🫨🫨🫨🫨🫨
