How to stand out in a good way??

I’m 17, based in Europe, and genuinely curious about IB and PE. I’m at a school for “gifted students” and already studied advanced math at TU Dresden (early university program). Over the last year, I’ve fallen deep into the world of IB and PE—working on my own models, reading up on deals, writing case studies.

But I know this industry sees a lot of “early grinders,” and it’s easy to be labeled as the “hardo”. I’ve got some mixed messages on networking at my age and trying to get some internships for example…

So I’m wondering:

If you’re in finance—what would you actually respect or take seriously in someone like me?

Just trying to be thoughtful about how to grow into this industry without becoming a cliché. Any advice appreciated.

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