History Main / NerdsLoveToughSchoolwork

* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine:'' Amy Santiago was this as a child and kept the attitude as an adult. Among other things she gets positively gleeful at the notion of filling out paperwork, considers wading through incomprehensible bureaucracy to get a permit to be a "kick-ass assignment", and being quizzed is one of her turn-ons.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Many nerds in real life are bullied in school. This does often result in excitement at the idea of tests and pop quizzes for multiple reasons. First, the teacher is much more likely to prevent bullies from talking (as to prevent cheating), which denies them their ability to harass the nerds. Then, when results come back for a quiz or test, the nerd aces the test and the bully fails it. Most bullies, especially in public schools, are usually known for their brutish strength and their lacking intellect.

* ''Franchise/ArchieComics'': Dilton Doiley enjoys his time at school, with one comic showing him treat the weekend like other students treat Monday. Another story took a darker turn with this, showing that the reason he likes school so much is that his parents work long hours and are never at home.

** This trope ends up saving the day in the {{Crossover}} episode with ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries''. The Recess Gang (plus Miss Finster) win a trip to Hawaii and cross paths with Lilo, who's trying to hunt down the [[MonsterOfTheWeek Experiment of the Week]]: Experiment 285, or [[MeaningfulName Lax]], a creature that fires a beam which instantly makes people so relaxed that they lose all concern about everything and focus exclusively on having fun. This causes trouble when BigBad Dr. Hamsterviel is plotting to attack the islands with a giant laser cannon in space; the kids and Stitch work to stop him, but [[DwindlingParty one by one fall prey to Lax]]. Gretchen is all set to reprogram the cannon when she is finally hit with Lax's beam...and, after a brief sigh, immediately gets back to work. That's right--doing advanced-level calculus and trigonometry are her definition of relaxation!

* A lot of HardOnSoftScience attitudes from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) majors comes from the perception of the humanities and social sciences as [[ADegreeInUseless "easy" majors]].

* A lot of HardOnSoftScience attitudes from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) majors comes from the perception of the humanities and social sciences as "easy" majors.

* In ''ComicStrip/{{Foxtrot}}'', Jason is portrayed as a super-nerd who loves doing math and science homework, often doing his older siblings' homework for fun.

* Averted with ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius''. He is highly intelligent and gets the highest grades in his class, but he's built some inventions to skip school like a patch that makes you sick as long as you keep it on and a machine to create snow days. Also, the prospect of being stuck in Summer School sound awful to him.

Fiction thinks that tough schoolwork is the greatest thing ever to a {{nerd}}. They go beyond the mere {{Bookworm}} in that they live for {{pop quiz}}zes, midterms, and final exams. Not that they are enthusiastic about subjects they are interested in, but tough work is awesome on its own. Basically, they are portrayed as the bizarro student. Having an extra day of school to these guys is like having a day off from school to most students. These nerds commonly suffer from OpinionMyopia, and will be baffled at why [[EverybodyHatesMathematics their fellow classmates]] ''[[EverybodyHatesMathematics aren't]]'' [[EverybodyHatesMathematics acting like they're meeting a rock star]]. "Why do you guys look so down? We're having a pop quiz on calculus! Isn't that great?!"

Fiction thinks that tough schoolwork is the greatest thing ever to a {{nerd}}. They go beyond the mere {{Bookworm}} in that they live for {{pop quiz}}zes, midterms, and final exams. Not that they are enthusiastic about subjects they are interested in, but tough work is awesome on its own. Basically, they are portrayed as the bizarro student. Having an extra day of school is like having a day off from school to most students. These nerds commonly suffer from OpinionMyopia, and will be baffled at why [[EverybodyHatesMathematics their fellow classmates]] ''[[EverybodyHatesMathematics aren't]]'' [[EverybodyHatesMathematics acting like they're meeting a rock star]]. "Why do you guys look so down? We're having a pop quiz on calculus! Isn't that great?!"

* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine: Amy Santiago was this as a child and kept the attitude as an adult. Among other things she gets positively gleeful at the notion of filling out paperwork, considers wading through incomprehensible bureaucracy to get a permit to be a "kick-ass assignment", and being quizzed is one of her turn-ons.

Fiction thinks that tough schoolwork is the greatest thing ever to a {{nerd}}. They go beyond the mere {{Bookworm}} it that they live for {{pop quiz}}zes, midterms, and final exams. Not that they are enthusiastic about subjects they are interested in, but tough work is awesome on its own. Basically, they are portrayed as the bizarro student. Having an extra day of school is like having a day off from school to most students. These nerds commonly suffer from OpinionMyopia, and will be baffled at why [[EverybodyHatesMathematics their fellow classmates]] ''[[EverybodyHatesMathematics aren't]]'' [[EverybodyHatesMathematics acting like they're meeting a rock star]]. "Why do you guys look so down? We're having a pop quiz on calculus! Isn't that great?!"

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Hermione shows this to varying degrees. [[SkewedPriorities She was more afraid of being expelled than dying]]. She says "oh no" when she hears that all tests have been canceled as a school treat. A boggart also reveals her worst fear is being told she failed all her studies, and in one year [[spoiler:used ''a time travel device'' all so she could take more classes.]]

-->'''Mrs. Krabappel:''' Guess what, class?
-->'''Martin:''' Time for a surprise quiz?!
-->'''Mrs. Krabappel:''' That's not what I was gonna say, but it's a good idea. [[CatchPhrase HA!]]
** Lisa Simpson also does this from time to time. In one episode the school has to shut down, and by the time Lisa gets home she is hysterical due to withdrawal. She immediately takes out an emergency kit she keeps under the couch, which contains a picture of Spingfield Elementary and a tape recording of a teacher yelling at students.

--> '''Principal Skinner:''' (''over intercom'') Attention. All honor roll students will be rewarded by a trip to an archaeological dig.[Martin Prince cheers] Also, all detention students will be punished with a trip to an archaeological dig. [the rest of the class groans]

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', Hermione shows this to varying degrees. [[SkewedPriorities She was more afraid of being expelled over death]]. She says "oh no" when she hears that all tests have been canceled as a school treat. A boggart also reveals her worst fear is being told she failed all her studies, and in one year [[spoiler:used ''a time travel device'' all so she could take more classes.]]

* Averted in episode of Series/SavedByTheBell when the jocks decided to skip class and the nerds wonder why they should have to take the test if the jocks don't have to. When told "Because you care about your education." one of the nerds responds "Nerd Myth! Nerd Myth! Deep down Nerds like to party!" Then they all leave the classrooom followed by pretty girls who say "Nerds are better than nothing."

* Hikami in ''TokimekiMemorial Girl's Side 2'' has some shades of this. He studies astrophysics in his spare time, is implied to research dates beforehand, and talks with great satisfaction about a difficult mathematics problem that he is looking forward to solving.

* The Brainiacs in HighSchoolMusical are characterized by their love of schoolwork. Martha Cox is almost ostracized by them for admitting that [[SeriousBusiness sometimes she thinks dancing is better than homework]].