UMBC's Hidden Talents
by Craig Berger
"This 13th President of the United States, originally fro---" I quickly buzzed in, interrupting the questioner.
"Millard Fillmore," my 15 year old voice said, proudly.
"That's correct," the stunned questioner said, awarding points to my high school quiz bowl team.
I'm confessing a hidden talent: I know all the Presidents of the United States in order, and have their names linked in my head to the number of their presidency. In fact, I do this with many historical facts and events. I absorb important dates and somehow link them with the event so that they are mutually reinforcing: the number takes on the nature or "feel" of the event, and I also see the number whenever I think about that particular piece of history (e.g., April 18, 1906 and the San Francisco Earthquake are connected in my mind, because the date reminds me of the event, and vice versa). I'm not sure why or how.
One thing I do know is that I do not often have the opportunity to take advantage of this skill--particularly recalling the order of and information about the Presidents--unless I am participating in a trivia contest. When this skill does somehow enter conversation with others, many people are astonished. Viewing history this way is so second nature to me, however, that it often surprises me that people do not experience events or history in this manner.
It does make me curious, though, about all of the hidden abilities and talents we are carrying, which make us more fascinating to each other and add to the diversity present within our community.
So let's hear from all of your inner superheroes--what are your hidden talents? Leap into the conversation by contributing a comment below.
"This 13th President of the United States, originally fro---" I quickly buzzed in, interrupting the questioner.
"Millard Fillmore," my 15 year old voice said, proudly.
"That's correct," the stunned questioner said, awarding points to my high school quiz bowl team.
I'm confessing a hidden talent: I know all the Presidents of the United States in order, and have their names linked in my head to the number of their presidency. In fact, I do this with many historical facts and events. I absorb important dates and somehow link them with the event so that they are mutually reinforcing: the number takes on the nature or "feel" of the event, and I also see the number whenever I think about that particular piece of history (e.g., April 18, 1906 and the San Francisco Earthquake are connected in my mind, because the date reminds me of the event, and vice versa). I'm not sure why or how.
One thing I do know is that I do not often have the opportunity to take advantage of this skill--particularly recalling the order of and information about the Presidents--unless I am participating in a trivia contest. When this skill does somehow enter conversation with others, many people are astonished. Viewing history this way is so second nature to me, however, that it often surprises me that people do not experience events or history in this manner.
It does make me curious, though, about all of the hidden abilities and talents we are carrying, which make us more fascinating to each other and add to the diversity present within our community.
So let's hear from all of your inner superheroes--what are your hidden talents? Leap into the conversation by contributing a comment below.
Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.
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Posted: February 1, 2015, 7:49 PM