We asked 优蜜视频’s Summer Programs Intern Kaitlyn Chen to write a reflection on her journey with 优蜜视频. Check out her post below on how 优蜜视频 influenced important decisions about her future career opportunities!

My name is Kaitlyn, and I鈥檓 currently a sophomore pursuing a major in Psychology with a minor in Film at California State University, Long Beach. In 2017, I participated in the program, externing at . Before coming into 优蜜视频, I had a set goal of wanting to become a film editor. For 6 years, I鈥檝e been self-teaching myself how to edit. I鈥檝e volunteered at multiple film festivals and nonprofit organizations in hopes of getting my foot in the door of the industry. However, the majority of the time, I was learning and editing on my own. When I started my junior year of high school, I decided that I wanted a mentor, someone who would guide me through the steps towards becoming a filmmaker, or more specifically, a film editor. I first learned of 优蜜视频 and their through my college and career counselor (Ms. Sisson) as I was nearing the end of my junior year. There, I met Ni帽a, who would become my program coordinator and later my supervisor this summer. I also met my EXPLORE mentor, Dr. Amy Catlin-Jairazbhoy, who would later become an influential person in my editing career.

How 优蜜视频 Helped me to Grow

优蜜视频 definitely challenged me socially by helping me step out of my comfort zone and opening myself up to new people, ideas, and experiences. The excursions that I visited during my year (2017) and this year (2019) in EXPLORE helped me to grow closer with the other externs and become familiar with the networking process. All it takes is a brief chat with someone, and there you go! You just formed a connection, and the next step is getting in contact with them. Through 优蜜视频, I鈥檝e learned that I shouldn鈥檛 be afraid of people, but of the missed opportunities in life. As the saying goes, 鈥淵ou miss 100% of the shots you don鈥檛 take.鈥� 优蜜视频 helped me see what it meant to be a gifted individual. It didn鈥檛 mean being born a prodigy or being the top 1% of the class (although those could be the cases). There are other individuals whose gifts might not be as obvious, yet they are the ones working their hardest to reach for their dreams.

优蜜视频 also challenged me academically by helping me apply my academic knowledge to the real world. Going into the EXPLORE program, I didn鈥檛 think I would need any prior knowledge, aside from video editing. However, I was wrong. Before I started on my editing project, Professor Amy gave me some books to read and some documentary films to watch. I understood that in order to carry out a project, I needed to know the background information behind it, or more specifically, the historical significance. That鈥檚 when I had to reach into my memory to recall some of the previous information I had learned at school. I never imagined history to be so alive and relevant in today鈥檚 world until I began applying my historical knowledge into everything I did during my externship. Moreover, 优蜜视频 taught me the technical side of the counseling field during these eight weeks I served as an intern. I learned how to format documents, file papers and keep records of the budget. I found these simple tasks to be very useful in my life, and I use them in all the things I do, whether that is formatting my assignments or recording my money spending.

Lights, Camera, Action!

The moment I stepped foot in Professor Amy鈥檚 house, I just knew my filmmaking experience would take a whole different turn. You wouldn鈥檛 believe how many cultural artifacts I saw in her house, especially her living room alone. It鈥檚 like walking into a museum of its own with paintings, musical instruments, books, and so much more. How cool would it be if all filmmakers had studios like this! My filmmaking experience was more fast-paced and contemporary. However, Professor Amy showed me another route I could take that was more slow-paced yet culturally informative. For three weeks, I worked with her in learning about various South / Southeast Asian cultures and getting a chance to edit one of her documentary films. I鈥檝e learned so much about the documentary filmmaking process 鈥撯�� not only the time it took to make a film, but also the time it took to learn all the information about the people and culture being documented. Professor Amy鈥檚 patience, guidance, and wisdom made my first hands-on experience in the EXPLORE program such a memorable one. I felt my work as an editor was even more valuable, knowing that it contributed to a global effort of connecting individuals to each other through cultural awareness. I never felt more valued as an editor when Professor Amy reached out to me after the program, asking me if I can help her edit again. It was that small favor that really ignited my passion for film. If someone believed in my ability, I should believe in it as well. I don鈥檛 think my connection with Professor Amy would鈥檝e been possible without 优蜜视频鈥檚 help because they were the ones who initiated the EXPLORE program. It is because of programs like these that allow students (like myself) to continually expand our networks and connect with individuals who are like-minded and passionately driven.

A Step Towards School Counseling

I always knew I had a soft spot for kids. I love being around them. They鈥檙e such a joy to work with because they exude so much energy and optimism. I had the chance to experience these ___ more fully this summer at 优蜜视频, engaging with students from all different backgrounds and grade levels. When I was at Academy and watching over the kids on their breaks, some of them would come up to me and excitedly ask me to play with them, whether that was tag or a board game. I felt like a kid at times, remembering when I used to run around with my friends or become super competitive in Monopoly. There were, however, times when I had to step in and calmly advise the kids not to run out onto the streets or to take turns in the game. On the other hand, when I was interacting with the high school students in the EXPLORE program, I felt, in a sense, more connected to them because I was in their shoes not too long ago. Whenever they voiced their victories, I celebrated with them. Whenever they voiced their defeats, I gave them some advice that others had given me when I was facing similar challenges. These moments of connecting and advice-giving allowed me to develop a sense of purpose and fulfillment that will transcend into my possible counseling career.

Being surrounded by kids/teenagers and interacting with them brought out my inner passion for helping others physically and psychologically. Because of my soft-spoken, compassionate, and observant nature, I believe school counseling might be a great field for me 鈥撯�� one that I can be myself and become the person I want to be. I realized that my purpose in life was to help those in need because the world so desperately needs that at the moment. I feel like my past experiences in counseling elementary and high school students at various nonprofit organizations, especially at 优蜜视频, have ultimately led me to where I鈥檓 at. It didn鈥檛 matter how many people I was helping because I鈥檓 satisfied knowing that helping one person can change his or her world. It鈥檚 strange how I entered 优蜜视频 wanting to pursue one field (film) and coming out wanting to pursue another field (psychology). It just goes to show that life and the choices you make in life are constantly changing. Therefore, you鈥檙e always learning how to adapt to these changes.

Designate quiet time and spaces

Many gifted children and adults identify as introverts and gather energy from time spent alone. Add sensual intensities into the mix and this quiet time becomes even more important. When expecting a full house for the holidays, plan ahead and make sure that everyone has a safe haven to retreat to and time to recharge before jumping into the next group activity.

Divide and conquer

You don鈥檛 need unanimous participation to plan activities for a large crew. Have different options available to meet a wide variety of interests. Maybe a group will go sledding for an afternoon while another stays home and plays a strategic board game. There will be plenty of time to catch up over dinner and more stories to share after a day of multiple adventures!

Start a new tradition

Family traditions can be fun, but sometimes the pressures of recreating happy memories can overwhelm the excitement of celebrating now. If a tradition is creating more stress than satisfaction, now may be the perfect time to consider starting a new tradition that helps you and your family maintain your sanity. With that in mind, don鈥檛 be afraid to鈥�

Take charge听

If you鈥檙e tired of being the 鈥渨et blanket鈥� or constantly finding yourself outside of your comfort zone, try suggesting an activity that you love to the rest of the group and volunteer to arrange the details. By initiating group plans you can have better control over the where, when, and how without having to make excuses or sit one out. Plus, if everyone ends up loving it as much as you do, you may have just started a new holiday tradition that everyone can help plan next year!

If you are the guest

Remember that you control the duration of your visit. Decide how long is long enough and stick to it. The holidays are a busy time for everyone; hopefully your family or friends will understand that you and your family鈥檚 time is valuable and will appreciate that you鈥檝e elected to share some of it with them. If you are able, consider staying at a hotel and/or renting your own car. Having a space that you can retreat to and get a good night鈥檚 sleep will make your visit much more enjoyable, as will the freedom to come and go as you please.

Surround yourself with good cheer

Seek out the people in your life who make you feel better and avoid those who contribute to feelings of anxiety and unhappiness. Since the holidays are filled with obligations, you may find yourself in close proximity with one of your 鈥渢rigger-people,鈥� but that is all the more reason to block out time to spend with the people who make you feel good and whole. Remember, balance is key.

Get moving!

Physical activity releases endorphins in the brain and can be an instant pick-me-up. Plus, by scheduling time to exercise, you鈥檙e also designating 鈥渕e-time鈥� to recharge away from the stressful people and situations that abound. This is especially important for children with psychomotor intensity.

Don鈥檛 set unreasonable expectations for yourself

When everyone around you is singing about 鈥渂eing merry鈥� and 鈥済oodwill toward men,鈥� it can be easy to chastise yourself for feelings of stress and unhappiness. Remember that it is okay to acknowledge these (totally rational) feelings and that you don鈥檛 always have to be 鈥渙n.鈥� Allow yourself time to feel sad, overwhelmed, or frustrated so that you can move on and celebrate during the moments that count.

Don鈥檛 have unrealistic expectations of others

Albert Einstein once said, the definition of insanity is 鈥渄oing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.鈥� You know your friends and family 鈥� don鈥檛 expect them to change just because the air鈥檚 a bit chillier and the department stores are decorated. Know what to expect from your loved ones over the holidays, and you鈥檒l be better able to prepare for when you see them. And if you鈥檙e pleasantly surprised by a helpful gesture or newfound sensitivity, so much the better!

Remember why you鈥檙e putting yourself through all this

The holidays can be stressful, but there鈥檚 a reason why we do it every year. This season is a time for compassion, so try to exercise that last bit of patience in the face of frustration. If you are opening your home to extended friends and family, remember that you don鈥檛 often get the opportunity to see them and that, before you know it, their visit will be over and you will be missing them again.

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This blog article is part of the听Hoagies鈥� Gifted Education Page Blog Hop. Please click on the graphic below (created by Pamela S Ryan鈥搕hanks!) to see the full list of听Hoagies鈥� Blog Hop participants.

Every gifted child has a unique story. The following story is part of a series of posts highlighting gifted children and adults we have found through 优蜜视频 programs, depicting the many faces of gifted. 优蜜视频鈥檚 – 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.

Garrett Marcotte
优蜜视频 Apprentice at Avery Research Center in 2004
Software engineer, Facebook

鈥淛ust go for it, because the earlier you gain experience, the greater the benefits you鈥檒l reap from that experience later on. Push yourself beyond your comfort zone, and never be discouraged by failure. Learn from it and do better next time, because you will improve.鈥� – Garrett Marcotte

As a high school sophomore, Garrett participated in 优蜜视频鈥檚 Apprenticeship Program, working with Avery Research Center. Today, Garrett is a software engineer at Facebook, designing and writing the code that makes the popular social networking service work.

After high school, Garrett attended Princeton University and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering and minors in Computer Science and Robotics. While at Princeton, Garrett took every class he could in all subject areas because he 鈥渄idn鈥檛 want to miss out on any of it.鈥�

Garrett has worked in a variety of jobs, including internships at JPL and Google, a research position at USC, and as a teacher鈥檚 assistant and grader at Princeton. He also spent a summer trying (unsuccessfully) to launch an internet start-up company.

Garrett has been at Facebook for about 18 months and enjoys the work very much. He hopes to get involved again in a start-up company someday. 鈥淚鈥檓 particularly interested in applying technology to education, politics, non-profits, and global issues, so I could easily see myself doing something in that area. But there鈥檚 so much exciting innovation going on all around me every day that I鈥檓 really just trying to keep pace with all the opportunities and go wherever I can have the most impact and really make a difference in the world.鈥�

Although a Facebook IPO is looming, Garrett focuses on the task at hand:

What really attracted me to Facebook was the opportunity to touch the lives of hundreds of millions of people on a daily basis, to contribute to a product that has changed the world, from the individual level of reconnecting friends and families up to the international level of helping millions organize for a common cause. In the Silicon Valley tech world there’s a strong belief that if you build a great product then you will be rewarded accordingly. Facebook is no exception, so the focus of all the employees that I know, from Mark Zuckerberg on down, is the same as it’s always been: to make Facebook the best that we possibly can and a real force for good in the world.

Garrett credits the Apprenticeship Program with giving him a huge jump start on his life path in several ways:

First, it helped me evaluate my interests. The fact that I signed up for a chemistry program but ended up spending most of time programming and working with electronics made it pretty clear where my real passion lay. And it was due to the diversity of projects available and freedom in selecting a project that I was able to reach that realization. Second, the program was a stepping-stone to future opportunities. The experience of owning a project, driving an end-to-end solution, and working within all the constraints of a real-world environment formed a central part of my college applications and job interviews for several years after the program. Finally, I jumped several years ahead of the curve in the field of signal processing, and in particular the most important software program in that field, Matlab. Most of my peers had no exposure to either of these until college, and because of that I was prepared for higher level courses and more advanced opportunities at a younger age. For example, I鈥檓 certain that I would not have been able to intern at JPL right out of high school if it hadn鈥檛 been for the skills I picked up during the Apprenticeship Program.

Although Garrett doesn鈥檛 see the other Apprentices on a regular basis, their paths have crossed a few times. 鈥淭he shared experience of the Apprenticeship program really is a common bond that ties us together even after several years.鈥�

For more about Garrett’s Apprenticeship at Avery Research Center, read听.听

There are still听spots available for our Apprenticeship Program in Los Angeles and San Diego. !

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