The Grass Isn't Greener On the Other Side

Many people think that "smart" people have everything going for them. The fact is, they don't. We have been reading Flowers for Algernon.  Charlie, who is the main character has challenges and a learning disability.  Charlie strives to be smart to have friends.  However, people like Charlie and "smart" people both face challenges.  Charlie has been only exposed to a small amount of diversity.  He does not yet undersand that "smart" people are also face challenges regarding friends. They have loads of pressure put on them. "Smart" people are often teased about being too smart. Society has many expectations. It makes people think that there is a certain level of intelligence that is perfect and will allow them to fit in. There is no perfect level of intelligence, because there is no such thing as perfect.

Charlie's definition of "smart" may be (and probably is) completely different from what others think "smart" really is. Charlie may think that smart is when they can reach out to people without being criticized. Others see being smart as being able to get good grades, know every answer to every question, and be anti-social. It is hard to combine both of these views into one. It is like comparing apples to oranges. People like Charlie socialize with people who relate to them, and the same goes with "smart" people. So when Charlie becomes smart, then he might only hang out with people who are smart like him.

Finally, people only see the perks of being on the other side of grass. People aren't willing to see the negative aspects of another side. Only when they get to the other side will they realize that the grass isn't greener on the other side. This idea will never end; It's a cycle. Being intelligent has no real definition, because everybody sees it in a different way. Everybody is different, therefore, there is not such thing as an intelligence test. An intelligence test cannot test every detail of a persons mind.