The Untold Secret of True Genius

[what education truly means]
The Untold Secret of True Genius
Those Who Know Their God-Given Gifts

1. The Question Hidden in the Word “Genius”

Scroll through social media these days, and it feels like the world is obsessed with the word “genius.”

A child who speaks multiple languages at a very young age. An elementary schooler solving college-level math problems. Ivy League graduates being admired as “brainy” or “gifted.” These people are celebrated—because we believe they were born geniuses.

But to be honest, hearing those stories often leaves me with a strange discomfort deep inside.

“Genius.”

It literally means a gift from heaven.

So does that mean some people were simply not given any gifts?

And who gets to decide that?

I’m not sure if they still do this, but schools used to give IQ tests. Kids with high scores were praised and envied. Teachers paid special attention to them.

Now, in the age of the internet, IQ tests are more accessible than ever. Parents get curious about their child’s number. What’s the score? Is it high enough to be called a genius? And somehow, that number starts to feel like it defines everything.

2. Why Love Must Come First

Let’s say, for argument’s sake—my child is a genius.

So what?

What exactly does that give us?

Wealth? Fame? Success?

But even if a child gains all that—will they be truly happy?

I sincerely wonder.

Isn’t the reason we choose to raise children not just so they can become successful, but so that we can walk with them through their growing years—and both become happier?

But in reality, that doesn’t happen so easily.

Life gets too busy.

So we try to compensate with money.

Better tutors, better materials, better environments.

And sure, those things help. But there’s something far more important—something that must never be left out:

Love.

A child who isn’t loved, no matter how wealthy the household, is always starving inside.

What every child needs most is this inner truth:

“I am loved.”

And that truth doesn’t come from money.

It comes from time.

From attention.

From a warm look in your eyes.

3. Grades, School, and the True Meaning of Education

As kids grow, we begin to focus more and more on report cards.

What’s their GPA?

How are they ranked in class?

Are they ahead in their cram school?

But we forget to ask the most important question:

“What does my child truly love?

What do they do best?”

If we take the time to observe, to join in their world, to nurture joy where it naturally grows—

That’s where real happiness is born.

A school shouldn’t be just a place that pushes grades.

It should be a place that acknowledges and cultivates each child’s unique personality, interests, and gifts.

Isn’t that what true education is?

4. What the Words “We Spent a Fortune…” Really Mean

One day, someone said this to me:

“We spent a fortune sending our kid to study abroad… and now they’re just a fitness trainer at a gym.”

“They ended up teaching English in some rural village.”

Hearing those words, I felt a deep sadness.

Because behind those statements were meanings far heavier than they seemed.

“We spent a fortune…”

That phrase alone says it all.

Sending their child overseas wasn’t about giving them a richer life—it was an investment, hoping for luxury in return.

And when the “return” didn’t meet expectations, it felt like failure.

If that parent also feels ashamed of their child—

That, to me, is truly heartbreaking.

But what if the child is genuinely happy—working as a trainer, teaching kids in the countryside?

Shouldn’t that be a blessing, no matter what anyone says?

5. Beyond Study Abroad, Success, and ROI

If the goal of studying abroad was to see a bigger world, think deeper, meet people from different cultures, and grow richer in life—

Then the experience itself should be considered a success.

If a child returns having learned and grown through that journey, even if they don’t land their “dream job” right away,

They’ll still find joy in the journey, and keep building their dream step by step.

And does that mean a child must study abroad to gain all this?

Of course not.

Some parents move to the countryside and raise their children close to nature.

Others stay in the city but fill their child’s life with love and encouragement.

It’s not about how much you spend.

It’s about who the choice was for—

Whose happiness was it meant to serve?

6. The Parent’s Role in a Child’s Happiness

Why do we raise children?

Shouldn’t it be because we want both ourselves and our children to live happy lives?

The goal isn’t to celebrate when they get into a prestigious school.

It’s to smile because they’re truly happy—right now.

And if they say they want to live in the countryside and become a farmer—

If they smile as they say it—

That smile alone should be enough to make us proud and grateful.

We shouldn’t mourn if our child ends up poor, as if their life were a failure.

We shouldn’t boast just because they became rich, as if that proves their worth.

The only thing that truly matters is this:

Is my child happy?

And if they are, can I truly, wholeheartedly cheer them on?

What True Genius Really Means

We’re all different.

God didn’t make any two people—

Not even twins—exactly the same.

Each of us walks a unique path toward happiness,

At our own pace, in our own color.

Let’s not forget that.

You don’t need a high IQ, or multiple languages, or an elite diploma to be considered “gifted.”

If you simply know the gift inside you—

And use it with joy—

I believe that makes you

a true genius.

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© Glory Kim. All rights reserved.
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