12-year-old Neha Ramu has an IQ of 162 -the highest possible score on the Mensa test. That makes her smarter than Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. Here, she shares her story:To be perfectly honest, I do not consider myself to be a child genius. True, I may have an unusually high IQ score, but it means nothing if I don't use my intelligence! I have still a lot to learn. My friends seem to disregard this fact and refer me as the one who knows everything in this world (a complete misconception to those who agree with them). I now realise that this has raised everyone's expectations from me. I hope this does not hinder me from enjoying all phases of life like a normal person. I have so far been just "the kid next door" and would like that to remain the same.
The better part of this realisation about my cognitive abilities is that I now know that I am gifted with good receptive and analysing skills, and I would like to make good use of them. Also, this will help me allocate less time on things that exploit these abilities and donate more of my time to enrich my knowledge (and develop my swimming techniques). I am enjoying the treats from my family that I am receiving, as I could never wish for them. It might even mean a trip to India, where I always enjoy the company of my extended family, my grandparents in particular.
I know my parents will continue to support me, as they have always done. No pressure. No flattery. Only appreciation and encouragement. My parents did not force me into anything I did not want to pursue, but supported me. I remember that I once chose to take part in dance classes, but I realised that my passion was swimming and I was able to quickly transfer, thanks to my parents' flexibility. Yes, I am gifted, but I believe that family support and care matters even more.