Every gifted person has a unique story. The following story is part of a series of posts depicting the many faces of gifted by highlighting gifted children and adults we have found through 优蜜视频 programs. 优蜜视频鈥檚 鈥� mentioned in this story 鈥� links gifted high school students from across the country with mentors who advance each participant鈥檚 skills through the application of knowledge and exposure to real world experiences.

Shaun Yosslowitz鈥�
2001 Apprentice, Robotics, Xerox PARC, Palo Alto, CA
2002 Apprentice, Astronomy, Caltech
IT Consultant, Accenture

For high school students looking ahead to college, 优蜜视频鈥檚 Apprenticeship Program is a great way to do something unique and productive during the summer. Shaun Yosslowitz participated in two science-based research opportunities that put him right in the middle of real-life work environments. Shaun told me his Apprenticeships were 鈥渁 fun activity that I was able to put on my college admissions applications. So, it was definitely a worthwhile experience that I would encourage pursuing for anyone interested.鈥�

Shaun participated in two 优蜜视频 Apprenticeship Programs鈥攁 Robotics program held at Xerox PARC in Palo Alto and the Exploration of Mars program held at Caltech. 鈥淎t Xerox Park I built and programmed a modular robot and presented the project to other interns and researchers at the facility. Using light sensors and basic Java, I built a robot to move away from light! I did not have much exposure to coding or Java beforehand, so I found it challenging but interesting.鈥�

鈥淎t Caltech, under the guidance of a professor, I researched sunspots on Mars and learned general information about the red planet. The program culminated with a presentation that I gave to the other Apprentices also doing programs sponsored by 优蜜视频 at Caltech,鈥� Shaun explained.

After high school, Shaun went on to college with plans to go into medicine. 鈥淚 started UCLA as a Chemistry major, as I enjoyed my 优蜜视频 Apprenticeships and science classes in school, but graduated with a major in Business Economics and minor in Accounting. My desire to become a doctor quickly shifted to an interest in accounting.鈥�

鈥淒uring my last couple of years at UCLA, I interned with a local accounting firm and then at Ernst and Young, where I started working full time after school. Ernst and Young supported me through my Certified Public Accounting preparation courses and exams and also heavily subsidized my Master鈥檚 in Business Taxation from the USC Leventhal School of Accounting. Later, I decided that I wanted a change. I now work for Accenture as an IT consultant, specializing in the Finance/Accounting area in technology/systems.鈥�

Shaun鈥檚 not sure where his life and career will take him, but he鈥檚 gotten some great insights along the way!

Jessica Houben is a Program Coordinator with 优蜜视频. She will be working most closely with the camps this program season.

1. What are you most passionate about in working with the gifted community?

I am most passionate about working with gifted youth in a non-traditional educational setting because I get to see kids grow on a personal level as well as intellectually. Getting to know each individual student throughout the application process and then seeing them in person going through an 优蜜视频 program is really rewarding because these kids are multi-faceted and complex in the most amazing ways. In a school setting, you don鈥檛 always get to see these kids for who they are, but at 优蜜视频, we get to see them blossom as individuals. It is such a pleasure to hear happy parents when they realize that they鈥檝e finally found programs that will challenge their child.

2. What is the most interesting thing you have learned about gifted kids since you started at 优蜜视频?

I guess I always thought about gifted kids being really intelligent, which they are. However, one interesting thing I have learned is that they can also be very . They do not take injustices lightly, they are passionate about the world鈥檚 problems, and they can be overly worried about friends or loved ones. These kids care a lot about their environment, and if given the proper tools, can really make a difference as leaders of the next generation.

3. What are you looking forward to about coordinating Yunasa this year?

I have coordinated Academy classes as well as our Apprenticeship Program for the past two program seasons and had the opportunity to attend and be in a supportive role at Yunasa in 2011. I love that Academy and Apprenticeship are academic programs that provide challenging intellectual content to gifted learners that they may not otherwise have access to, but I鈥檓 really excited to facilitate personal and intellectual growth within a camp environment. I really enjoy camping, the outdoors, and carrying on traditions. I鈥檓 hopeful that I can continue the Yunasa tradition and that even more students are able to benefit from the camp.

4. What鈥檚 your favorite activity from an 优蜜视频 program?

It is really hard to choose because there are so many things that I love that we do in each program! I like that we do Olympics at Apprenticeship, because the Apprentices support and encourage their team members and compete in a positive way. I also enjoy Psychosynthesis at Yunasa because it allows campers the opportunity to focus and relax. However, I think my favorite activity from an 优蜜视频 program is launching rockets with our Academy students. During spring, I assisted in the Rocket to Calculus class and had the chance to build and launch a rocket with students, which was so much fun because I got to see the students鈥� faces light up as the math and science they learned came to life!

5. What is your educational philosophy?

I believe that education should be meaningful, holistic, and child-centered. In today鈥檚 society, a lot of emphasis is placed on test scores and results rather than focusing on the process of learning. Children need to learn by exploring their world, solving problems that are relevant to them, and having positive experiences in content areas that are interesting. Of course, everyone needs to learn the basics, but that is just one part of education. The other part is finding out what each child enjoys and wants to learn more about and then providing the opportunities to learn about that topic in a way that keeps them interested in becoming lifelong learners.

6. What鈥檚 your favorite snack food?

My favorite snack food is chocolate. Whenever I鈥檓 feeling tired, or stressed, or I just need something a little sweet, chocolate is the answer. It can be in any form; I don鈥檛 discriminate.

7. What鈥檚 one activity you enjoy doing in your free time?

I really enjoy doing yoga in my free time. I have practiced yoga on and off for about 9 years, taking different classes in college, at yoga studios, at the gym, or with a video in my living room. It鈥檚 an activity that uses my mind and body, and every time I do it I feel like I鈥檓 doing a good thing for myself.

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