The summer before my senior year of high school, I attended the Great Books Summer Program at Amherst College, otherwise known as "nerd camp" to those I may have recounted the experience.

I went because I have a passion for literature and creative writing, but my passion could not rival that of my fellow campers. They were fanatics, and their level of expertise on the literary scene was threatening. I had never picked up a Harry Potter book, but wouldn’t dare mention it, in fear of looks of disdain.

For two weeks, we spent our days at lectures, discussions, writing workshops, having foam sword fights and performing skits of fan fiction. We read the original version of Dante's Inferno, and discussed it for hours before bed. Over the course of the experience, I felt as if Virgil was leading me through some variation of the seven circles of hell, but simultaneously, right at home.

The individuals at the camp were some of the most fascinating people I've ever met. They had a comprehensive general knowledge of every text brought up in discussions, and were energized by exercising their brains.

I was a bit judgmental and baffled at the time, but their fervor for their craft was truly admirable. They had big aspirations, intellectual goals and let their studies encompass every element of their lives. I knew they would end up at prestigious colleges, obtain prestigious degrees and have rewarding careers, eventually reaching some intellectual nirvana in their adulthood.

As college students, we now have the opportunity to study what we love. We pay, or are given a large sum of money to study what we love. Yet we skim textbooks, complain about the level of work we have and skip classes from time to time. Yes, I’m being hypocritical. Who isn’t culprit of this behavior every now and then?

I haven't cracked my Macroeconomics book all semester and skimmed a required book for one of my classes just last week. After the class discussion of aforementioned book, I reluctantly decided to give the introduction a thorough read, and become enveloped. It is a really good book. I originally neglected a text that touched upon my interests and gave me invaluable insight for my future, because it got lost in the bulk of my required “work”.

In response to my nonsensical ways, my mind became flooded with a plethora of slightly existential questions. Why is there a stigma surrounding education, if education provides us with the quantifiable means (a degree) to succeed in this world? Why is pouring time and energy into a subject I’m supposedly passionate about so grueling and unattractive? Frankly, if educating ourselves is so detestable, what’s the point?

As a not-so qualified student enrolled in Introduction to Neuroscience, I can tell you that our brain is a muscle. One of the most important muscles in our body, as it has the ability to alter our perceptions, behavior and general consciousness. In response to enriched environments, we develop more neural connections and strengthen existing ones. Education, travel and cultural awareness all aid in this concept called “neuroplasticity”. Enriching our environments also assists in our ability to retain memories toward the ends of our lives. Complex and intellectually stimulating activities have been linked to a reduction of the risk of cognitive decline in old age. So all those pastimes that we may have deemed “boring” at some point in our lives, are assisting in our ability to remember our lives.

I have started completing all my class readings, taking notes and giving my professors my full attention. I have stopped online shopping during lectures and have finally touched the pile of novels on my nightstand I’d been meaning to read. I’ve set aside two hours a week to freelance write and have been attending events at Skidmore that intellectually stimulate me. Throwing my heart and soul into my work has made me genuinely happier and confirmed I am exactly where I need to be in my academic career. I hope to one day be an expert in my field in a career I love. I’ve stopped calling my summer experience “nerd camp” because I can’t wrap my head around why there is a derogatory term for being an intelligent person.

I am unable to pinpoint exactly why there are negative connotations associated with intellect, but I do know there was some soundness in my epiphany. If you dread doing your classwork, give the material a deeper glance. Explore the field beyond the scope of the classroom, and if you still hate it, maybe you’re not studying what you’re meant to study. Negligence of the brain does a great disservice to society and your own quality of life.