You can certainly say that for yourself, but ascribing it merely to "hard work" for everyone is facetious.
I didn't work hard at all. I've never had a class which seriously taxed me mentally and until college at least I could get As without even trying at all.
Even more directly, on my first time taking the SAT (with 0 prep) I scored better than anyone else in my class, including people who had studied like crazy and gone through extensive prep courses.
Thinking that I'm anything but incredibly lucky would be arrogant of me. That being said, I do dislike the "gifted" terminology, primarily due to its theological and duty connotations.
I didn't work hard at all. I've never had a class which seriously taxed me mentally and until college at least I could get As without even trying at all.
Even more directly, on my first time taking the SAT (with 0 prep) I scored better than anyone else in my class, including people who had studied like crazy and gone through extensive prep courses.
Thinking that I'm anything but incredibly lucky would be arrogant of me. That being said, I do dislike the "gifted" terminology, primarily due to its theological and duty connotations.