I'm not the best student. Never have been. As a kid, I always thought I was slow or stupid because I couldn't keep up with the material like my peers could. It took me years to realize that I wasn't stupid-it was just the public education system that made me feel as though I was. As I matured into adulthood I realized that everything the school system had taught me about myself was wrong. I was actually intelligent, a good learner, and willing to take on new challenges. Here are some ways I primed my brain for learning, overcame mental barriers, and studied for some of the most difficult tests in the country.