islanded in a stream of stars

In some form I agree with you. However, somehow, to me, "genius" tends to carry with it the connotation that one is not quite human. Therefore, when I get to know someone I often think "Wow, they have feelings! They must be human!" which somehow slightly removes them from genius status in my mind. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes you get to know someone and they are human and yet still a genius. There is one person in particular that insists that she is not smart and it stuns me. She is one of the most brilliant people I know. I suppose I don't think of many people in our age range because I feel that most within our grade acknowledge their geniuses, (see Sophie's comment. Also, by writing that post, you are in some way acknowledging your own genius.). Perhaps they do not, however. I think I tend to assume people who are that brilliant tend to know they are though it is not always the case.