I was a "untalented" math student required to take a lot of math because of my degree. Honestly, there are two sides- I gave up very easily and didn't put the kind of effort that *I* needed to be successful (which seemed like too much at the time).
On the other hand, I would sit in a stats or calculus class and could tell that a few of the students just "got it." I found it highly discouraging to know I would need to put in three times the amount of work as the "getting it" students.
I think it is cultural- I think in the US, students are not trained for the "grit" that it takes to get through difficult subjects. We admire talent, not extreme effort- but talent can be a double edged sword if students aren't challenged during their formative years. Challenge (the real kind that involves struggle) builds character.
