Model Yang Bingyang , 23, was one of the first mainland Chinese to join Mensa, the global club for people with high IQs. The Sichuan native, who found fame on the internet under the name 'Ayawawa', is encouraging more bright people to join.
Why did you choose to join Mensa?
I heard of the club a long time ago, but I knew no details until last April when I came across an internet bulletin board. Since I'm always curious about intelligence tests and I boast about having an IQ of 145, I quickly applied, for a challenge.
How did you pass the Mensa test?
I'm usually confident, but I still recall that on the day of the test I broke out in a cold sweat when a Mensa member handed me a thick pile of test papers, and ordered me to finish them within 20 minutes. But I found it was not as hard as I expected. You need to figure out its rules. Ten days later I received my certificate and then paid the membership fee of #12 (HK$165) a year. I was very happy because I felt a sense of belonging.
Do you feel smarter than others?
Today my motto is that 'I'm both smarter than pretty people and prettier than smart ones'. My parents told me that I learned everything faster and earlier than others when I was a child. I could read fairy tales when I was two and do complicated calculations while in kindergarten. I published my first essay in a newspaper when I was only seven. During my middle and high school years, I was kind of naughty and sometimes opposed my teachers. My studies were not that good, but I loved to do a lot of extra-curricular reading. Those experiences still have some impact on my life today as you can see I'm a little bit slack and sometimes bad tempered. So I think I have a low 'EQ' (emotional quotient).