I had the same experience. I even made the mistake of being honest: In HS I didn't care about computers and had poor academic performance. It wasn't until 6 years later I even knew what computer science was, and didn't look up until 11 years and a PhD later when I was writing software for NASA or managing robotics teams at FAANG/ startups. I got an immediate reject for a robotics SWE position. I'm trying to temper ego even now, but I was qualified for an interview.

sounds like you dodged a bullet.

You qualified for the interview, but did they qualify for you?

Tbh, to keep my ego in check, whenever i get rejected ghosted, or whatever, I just assume the company/interviewer is doing a perfect job for screening for the kind of candidates they want and need, and if I don't pass it means "there wasn't a fit", tbh if we were totally honest with myself, I don't fit well into most corporate cultures, and I should not care if they ask me questions I did not care enough to answer well in the first place.

A highschool performance question is not odd. It is meant to filter me out - that is perfect, because why would I want to waste my time on an interview in a company with this mentality, in the first place?

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