I was one of the dumbest among the smart kids I hung out with, the bad influence, but we did have fun.
peers count for alot, parents count for alot. but what counts the most is the kid him/her self.
I say this because there came a moment, and I remember it well, when I knew that I knew how to learn. before that, I didn't not know that.
I knew WHAT I wanted to learn, just not how to learn it, how to nurture and guide myself. it was a big deal and it still is