Math was rote memorization and regurgitation of algorithms which I had trouble memorizing without explanations of how and why they worked. Later on I found out the answers to these questions are called "proofs," they are very fundamental to mathematics, and I am quite good at them. I did not excel at the math I was given because I was plagued with foundation questions about why any of this added up (sorry) logically and they were blockers to true understanding for me. Logic was completely missing from the curriculum. Digested mathematical trivia were handed to me like I was some kind of child. I was never given the power tools I wanted to build my own knowledge, perhaps for fear of my safety or my innocence.
People who were good at studying and taking people's word for things sailed through and to this day can't prove things rigorously. These kids don't like taking things apart.
It was only during some education electives I took that I realized that a well known problem in STEM education is the group of students who are intelligent but have rather slow, idiosyncratic, and methodical ways of assimilating new information. Imagine the quantum of solace that gave me.
I chose Computer Science at random from an admissions catalog because I liked writing programs even though I was "bad at math," and because I couldn't afford film school. 4 years of discrete math, modern geometry, multi-variable calculus, linear algebra, and algorithm classes (on top of other fun but not as fun-damental courses) later and I realize what a load of boring and disingenuous shit public school math was.
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Why do so many gifted kids think they don't like "math?" Because "math" sucks and schools don't let kids build things anymore - materially or otherwise.
[Edit] Grammar, new insights, the sort of thorough editing I should have done the first time.