<p>Obviously natural intelligence plays a role. If you’re smart, school will be easier. Effort is still required (incomplete homework = terrible grades, no matter the IQ), but it’s easier.</p>
<p>However, too much importance is put on natural intelligence. It doesn’t give someone else more value than another; it doesn’t make one person’s thoughts better than another’s. Natural intelligence doesn’t give you talents in every area of your life. It’s not the end all be all. Everyone would be better off if we stopped sizing people up with our IQ measuring sticks, deciding if they are worthy of our attention. (I’m not saying the OP or any other posters are doing this.) I saw it happen too much in my high school years, and I think a lot of friendships were lost due to someone being deemed insignificant in the academic food chain.</p>