"Why Nerds are Unpopular" by Paul Graham has some interesting points if someone wants to discuss how someone can be good at technical subjects.

Generally, I just take it in stride that a lot of people in the world think Math is this horrible horrible thing that they had to endure in a way that was almost like torture. I don't agree with that but I can understand how for some Math is an extremely hard subject as I had difficulties with various Arts classes for many years. My struggle is that while the teacher would say, "Oh just write what you want," or "Just draw what you want," this often had some ulterior point that wasn't communicated and when I'd get back the grade that was a 6/10 or 12/20 and I'd want to know what I did wrong, the teacher couldn't really offer specific points that I could use. Luckily I had a high school English teacher give me the algorithm for an essay that finally fixed a lot of my issues so I would start getting As in English as opposed to the C- or D I had been getting previously.

If the situation is where one can have a serious deep discussion, it can be interesting to hear the various horror or war stories that people have in Math classes. I find Math to be that rare subject where it is mostly Application and not knowledge or comprehension like other elementary school subjects.

For a final thought on this subject, I tend to find those that pursue academics to be the social outcasts in school. If most adults think good grades are something that is worthwhile and a good thing, how about rewarding that to the same degree that artistic and athletic abilities get rewarded in modern times? Artistic abilities would include the child actors or singers that can become rather famous for how this can be packaged and marketed. Child athletes are common in some sports like Gymnastics but there are also various team sports where one can become famous or popular for having some talent and combined it with a skill that has been worked. I will admit that even after being out of school for a number of years this still brings up bitter memories and confusing thoughts about what is the point of our education system in North America at times. Anyway, I think that I've rambled enough to have given some thoughts on this subject here.