Limitations and Discrimination by Lauren R. and Madison D.

     

        Intelligence comes in many different forms, sometimes in forms that most people don't recognize right away. Charlie from Flowers For Algernon is mentally disabled but that doesn't hold him back from wanting to be "smart". He sees "smart" people as people who have friends and no problems. He believes that if he was smart that he would have more friends and not that many problems. But Charlie doesn't comprehend that smart people have problems too.
         Everyone has challenges and difficulties in their life. They range from family issues, to friendship problems, to intellectual comprehension. Every person has their own battle they deal with secretly, regardless of their IQ. For example, smart people deal with stereotypical people who think more of their intelligence and less of their personalities. As for mentally disabled people, they deal with seeing the world in different ways and being seen in a different way.
         People think that being intellectually gifted is a walk in the park, but they don't see it from smart peoples perspectives. For instance when gifted children are placed in a regular class, they are easily bored because the work comes so easily to them that they have no reason to try. Also, many people stereotype the smart people thinking that they want the hard, boring jobs and that they grow up wanting to be genius' but that is not always the case. Lastly, gifted children are sometimes raised with high expectations that they will be the next President or brilliant scientist. The parents and teachers probably don't know that they want something else in life because they grew up doing nothing but learning. Smart people have challenges in the world that most people don't recognize immediately.
       Mentally challenged people also have their fair share of difficulties. Sometimes, they can't comprehend simple concepts while others pick it up quickly. They get scoffed at from others because of their limitations. It's hard for other people to relate to them because of their differences. In the end, regardless of your IQ, we all have to face challenges that we have to fight to overcome.