Why do top students refuse to be acknowledged?

[Ahmad]

Actually, I heard a story, also about another maths guy, who solved one of the millennium puzzles (and I think was going to be awarded with the Fields medal?), he turned both million dollar prizes down. He lives with his mother. Some people are also just plain insane.

That would be Grigory Perelman and this is the best article I've read which among other things tries to explain why he may have declined the Fields medal: click here.

[NE2000]

Looking back there are also students in my classes who just can't seem to keep their mouth shut and give others ago. To be quite honest, I've always disliked 'know-at-alls' who do this (e.g. like that girl from Harry Potter).

Yes and why would someone want to be disliked by their peers for being a 'know-it-all'? That's one of the motivations for not answering every single question.

But wouldn't it get sorta frustrating if you were in a class full of idiots who don't possess even the most basic knowledge of the materials covered. In this case, you wouldn't even be able to give other's ago and instead of looking modest by not answering you look even worse for being seen as to not know the answer and from not contributing you make others feel as though you are not part of the class. Either way, I just don't see the logic.

Are the people you speak of not answering anything at all or are they not answering as many as they can?  Because if it's the latter then just remember that they don't necessarily crave for attention and neither do they want to specifically look modest. It could be that they just don't want to look like 'know-it-alls' and hence be disliked by their peers as you yourself mentioned above. Again, there are many other ways of showing others you are smart without forcing the fact upon them...

[boysenberry]

Are the people you speak of not answering anything at all or are they not answering as many as they can? 

There's actually quite a few, it's differs in each case and they do happen to be the top students. Anyway, I was faced with similar problems not too long, I began wondering what the right thing to do was. But for this thread my intention was to not make this directed at anyone but rather make it a general discussion.

[amirite?]

I must admit I cringe when the stupid people speak up. It always seems to be the same people. "Here we go again..."

Some people are naturally introverted. Im sort of like this. I just soak it all in. I dont have to involve myself in a discussion to take something out of it.

In my classes people know how smart the other students are. No one needs to prove anything to the class. As long as youre getting good results thats all that matters.

[boysenberry]

I guess it could be a personality issue. I mean shy people are also less likely to speak up.

[m@tty]

I guess it could be a personality issue. I mean shy people are also less likely to speak up.

Why is it an issue? The point of the questions is to get students to think so if you have thought about the question you have derived the benefit from it, speaking up will only shorten the time and diminish the benefit the remainder of the class receives from the question.

[Akirus]

In regards to receiving awards and so on, some people, myself included, just don't feel the need for validation from peers and society.

[herzy]

why not? what's wrong wtih external recognition for one's achievements?

[Akirus]

You misunderstand me. There's nothing wrong with it, as such. It's more indifference; it doesn't really matter either way.

[herzy]

i see - its not about that, so why does it matter. admirable i guess, but i cant say i agree but its good there are people like that out there

[ZachCharge]

In regards to receiving awards and so on, some people, myself included, just don't feel the need for validation from peers and society.

In regards to receiving awards and so on, for some people, myself included, the tick next to the box saying "yes I want my name in the papers" was simply ignored by whoever process the student info forms. Couldn't be stuffed correcting it.

[amirite?]

You misunderstand me. There's nothing wrong with it, as such. It's more indifference; it doesn't really matter either way.

Im with you. If I know ive done well on something.. I know ive done well on something. It doesnt take outside praise for me to realise that.

[m@tty]

You misunderstand me. There's nothing wrong with it, as such. It's more indifference; it doesn't really matter either way.

Im with you. If I know ive done well on something.. I know ive done well on something. It doesnt take outside praise for me to realise that.

They aren't 'just in case you didn't know', they are a reward and a pleasure given to deserving persons.

[amirite?]

You misunderstand me. There's nothing wrong with it, as such. It's more indifference; it doesn't really matter either way.

Im with you. If I know ive done well on something.. I know ive done well on something. It doesnt take outside praise for me to realise that.

They aren't 'just in case you didn't know', they are a reward and a pleasure given to deserving persons.

Eh. Im talking about praise from peers not scholarships and the like.

[m@tty]

Definitely don't want continuous praise from peers. :buck2: