A recent trend is certain corners of the internet is聽young聽adults who were called 鈥済ifted鈥� as children聽sharing聽how that label affected them, and聽the effects they share are usually聽negative.聽This聽聽(note: contains language)聽gathers quotes from other 鈥渇ormer gifted kids,鈥� so I鈥檒l choose a few to frame my explanation of how 优蜜视频 programs are actually an antidote to these negative effects, rather than part of the problem.聽

Here are 3 quotes from former gifted kids and how 优蜜视频鈥檚 work is helping to break the cycle of negativity: 

鈥淚 had the experience I think a lot of 鈥榞ifted鈥� kids have when they enter a world no longer ruled by classes and grades and discover they are no more well equipped to face the world than anyone else. All we have is a false superiority complex and massive disappointment in ourselves every time we don鈥檛 immediately excel at something.鈥� 

Many gifted kids are underachievers or gifted in a way that doesn鈥檛 result in high grades. For those who are used to easily excelling in school, 优蜜视频 creates an environment to be challenged, often for the first time, in a safe and supportive environment.  

鈥淚 entered a culture where everyone, teachers, parents, relatives, etc. valued me for my smarts, and so I used that as my yardstick to value other people for a long time. Nowadays I鈥檓 more interested in who shows compassion, loyalty, dedication, generosity, humor, etc.鈥� 

优蜜视频 programs, in addition to helping our students grow intellectually, also helps them develop emotionally, socially, and spiritually. We place a high value on empathy and how to be the kind of friend to others that you would want to have yourself. 

 鈥淚 got into a lot of trouble. Even though I was a full academic year ahead, I was still not very intellectually stimulated, so I started trying to find ways to keep myself amused. These ended up not being very well thought of by authority figures.鈥� 

It鈥檚 true that boredom can lead to negative behaviors. I鈥檝e heard from several Academy parents that their children behave much better in Academy classes than they do at school because they are continually engaged in the material rather than waiting for the next assignment. 优蜜视频 programs also teach students how to self-regulate to keep frustration to a minimum even when they are in over- or under-stimulating environments. 

 These former gifted kids may feel negatively impacted by their experience bearing that label, but our hope at 优蜜视频 is that our students are empowered to keep growing in all aspects of self, even after they leave our programs. I believe 优蜜视频 programs push students to feel challenged to strive toward their full potential as intelligent, compassionate, and creative young people!  

Kate Duey is a private college counselor serving gifted students. She has worked with students on traditional schooling paths, home schooled students, community college students, and students seeking accelerated or early college entrance. Kate is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School. She has a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA.

What happens if a student graduates from high school exhausted? AP classes, standardized testing, extracurricular activities, sports, music, community service, research projects…and all of those college essays! What if they worked so hard they can鈥檛 remember what they like? Are they ready for four or five or six more years?

Among gifted high school students, it is especially important to remember that giftedness is innate to a person, and we should embrace the whole student by supporting their intellectual, social, spiritual, emotional and physical growth. When a gifted student鈥檚 high school years disproportionately emphasize intellectual development, the whole person is neglected. Refreshing all parts of a gifted student鈥檚 self helps to focus his or her intensities in ways that work with and for the student.

For graduating high school students who find themselves exhausted, an intentional pause to decompress and plan their next steps 鈥� a 鈥済ap year鈥� between high school and college 鈥揷ould be a viable option. They often enter college with better perspective, more maturity, chronological alignment with his or her class, and enthusiasm for an old or new interest elevates the student鈥檚 whole experience.

Taking a gap year does not mean the student does not apply to college as a high school senior; they absolutely should. As a high school student, he or she has access to the teachers and counselors who will write letters of recommendation, grades and test scores are in hand, and good reference materials to search for college are easier to access. Definitely apply! Then, defer.

As a college counselor working with gifted high school students, I鈥檝e twice seriously advised a gap year. One student considered extreme mountaineering, the other living in Europe with extended family. (Admittedly, neither did it.) I鈥檝e talked about it with every student who has an interest in studying foreign languages. Among our tabloid friends, Prince William and Kate Middleton took gap years. Kate spent much of hers studying Italian. Every year, fifty to seventy students defer entrance into Harvard College for a gap year. In 2006, Harvard reported some of the focuses of those gap years:

• Backpacking
• Caring for grandparents
• Writing the Next Great American Novel
• e-commerce startup
• Figure skating
• Kibbutz life
• Language study
• Military service
• Mineralogy
• 听惭耻蝉颈肠
• Political campaigns
• Reading
• Special needs education
• Sports
• Steel drumming
• Storytelling
• Swing dancing
• Working to save money for college

Parents often worry that, by detaching from a year-to-year academic progression, their child will fall behind. Colleges seldom see it that way, and many letters of admission come with the option of deferring for a year. Once in college, students are often encouraged to take a year off, and college student counseling centers freely offer advice about opportunities. Splitting the difference, some colleges offer mid-year entrance, allowing the student a 鈥済ap semester.鈥� American University and Brandeis University have formal off-campus programs for first-year fall semester.

A year off can center around any endeavor. Now that average student indebtedness at graduation is $25,200, saving for a year before college can create more flexibility after college. Another opportunity is more family time, especially with grandparents, which may have been sacrificed for academic achievement.

Some parents and students prefer a structured year. There are many services which will match a student with a gap year program, and a quick internet search will yield many. Also, think outside of the box; my personal favorite was a year at Austin Community College studying blacksmithing.

A gap year can make for a more interesting student, capable of adding more to the academic community. Best of all, students can discover their passions and capture their zeitgeist before they begin college.

Has your child considered taking a gap year? Please share your experience in the comment section below.

Kate will be discussing college admissions at our next . The talk will take place at 6:30 pm on February 13, 2013, at the 优蜜视频 Learning Center, located at 625 Fair Oaks Avenue, Suite 288, South Pasadena, CA 91030 (across the hall from the 优蜜视频 main office). Please RSVP to reception@educationaladvancement.org. We hope to see you there!

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