Congratulations to 优蜜视频 on an amazing 25 years!  

I am so grateful to the many friends of 优蜜视频 from the Los Angeles area and beyond who joined us for this magical evening celebrating 优蜜视频鈥檚 founding 25 years ago.听As guests arrived they enjoyed cocktails and delicious hors d鈥檕euvres, listened to live jazz piano and bid on silent auction items. The jubilant crowd included current and past board members, alumni, students, parents, educators and staff all excited to celebrate this major milestone for the organization. I want to extend a big shoutout to our talented EXPLORE students who displayed impressive research projects at the reception, as well as Ziv Bard, a current Caroline D. Bradley Scholar, who came all the way from the Magic Castle in Los Angeles to amaze and delight our guests with mesmerizing magic tricks.听

The evening鈥檚 program kicked off with an enthusiastic welcome by Master of Ceremonies and 优蜜视频 parent, Chris Gialanella, President and Publisher of Los Angeles Magazine, followed by a special proclamation presentation honoring 优蜜视频鈥檚 25th anniversary from Los Angeles County Supervisor, Kathryn Barger. A special highlight of the evening for me was when the audience applauded with heartfelt gratitude as Elizabeth 鈥淏etsy鈥� Jones, our 优蜜视频 President and Co-Founder, came to the podium. 

Betsy introduced fellow 优蜜视频 Co-Founder, Jim Davis and shared her memories of the beginnings of 优蜜视频. She recalled sitting at her kitchen table with Jim making plans to create a new organization to support gifted youth and all aspects of a gifted child鈥檚 educational and personal needs. Jim assisted Betsy at the podium in introducing the honorees and presenting awards. Honorees included past board chairs, including Jeff Hudson and Chris Newman, whose leadership and dedication to the organization have been instrumental in its continued success. Jim and Betsy surprised additional honorees Michael Piechowski, who was honored for his 22 years of service as a longtime Yunasa Senior Fellow, as well as 优蜜视频 co-founder Jim Davis, for his important role in founding and guiding the organization in its early years. Lastly, Jim and Betsy honored the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD), represented by Karen Anderson, PUSD Arts and Enrichment Coordinator, for the important role it has played in helping 优蜜视频 serve hundreds of our local schoolchildren through a long history of program collaboration.

One of my favorite moments of the evening was the champagne toast to 优蜜视频’s 25^th anniversary made by Board Chair, Byron Lichtenstein, an alum of the inaugural Caroline D. Bradley Scholar Class of 2002 and part of the first group of Yunasa campers. Byron shared his memories of finding 优蜜视频 as a 12-year-old and how it changed his life. The crowd raised their glasses in unison to toast the amazing accomplishments of the past 25 years and to look forward to the next 25. The surprises kept coming as Jeff Hudson presented Betsy with a special proclamation from the City of Pasadena that had been signed by Pasadena mayor, Victor Gordo, and a terrific video presentation was shown featuring 优蜜视频 children and community members sharing their gratitude to 优蜜视频 and wishing 优蜜视频 a happy 25th Anniversary.  

In addition to celebrating 25 years, the event raised funds which will support need-based tuition assistance, program implementation and community partnerships. A big thank you to current Caroline D. Bradley Scholar, Matthew Chang, and MC Chris Gialanella, who led the successful 鈥淔und-a-Future” live auction. I am so grateful to all of our 优蜜视频 friends who generously supported the event by making donations, purchasing tickets and silent auction items or volunteering. And a big thank you to the 优蜜视频 team for their tireless efforts organizing the event. It was a remarkable team effort. One of the things I hear expressed most when I talk to students, parents, alumni is how lucky they feel to have found 优蜜视频 because it has made such a difference in their lives. I feel lucky too, and I am very proud to be a part of this organization. Here鈥檚 to the next 25, 50, 75 years, and beyond! 

Jane Laudeman 

Development Manager 

Institute for Educational Advancement 

PASADENA, CA 鈥� 09/26/2023 鈥� The Institute for Educational Advancement (优蜜视频), a national nonprofit dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation鈥檚 gifted and advanced learners, celebrated its 25^th anniversary with a Celebration Gala. The event, which was hosted at the San Gabriel Country Club, on Sept. 23, 2023 honored the individuals and organizations that support 优蜜视频 and raised funds to continue the nonprofit鈥檚 important work.

At the Celebration Gala, 优蜜视频 presented the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) with an award for their partnership and dedication to the children in the community. PUSD has been a longtime partner of 优蜜视频. From 1999-2010, the organizations ran a pilot program called Pipeline to Success that provided gifted middle and high school students in PUSD with enrichment classes, Personal Education Plans, and other services, and stressed strong relationships among students, teachers, parents, Program Coordinators and enrichment teachers. Most recently, PUSD tapped 优蜜视频 to deliver free, high-quality gifted and talented services for eligible students. Last year, over 130 students in grades 3-8 benefited from the 优蜜视频-lead curriculum.

优蜜视频 also honored co-founder, James Davis, past board chairs including Jennifer Burke, Jeffrey Hudson and Chris Newman for their leadership and Michael M. Piechowski for his longtime role as a Yunasa Fellow and incredible 22 years of service to gifted students.

鈥淛im and I wanted to create an organization to provide stimulating, rigorous programs that would address the intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical needs of advanced learners, while providing educators with tools and best practices to support the unique needs of gifted learners,鈥� said Elizabeth Jones, president and co-founder, Institute for Educational Advancement.

Recognized as one of the nation鈥檚 leading organizations supporting the needs of gifted youth, 优蜜视频 is one of the only nonprofit organizations providing a robust array of services in Los Angeles County. The nonprofit offers enrichment classes and learning opportunities, teacher trainings, consulting services, support groups, summer camps and scholarships for gifted learners. Since its inception in 1998, 优蜜视频 has supported over 11,000 students.

In addition to the awards ceremony, the Celebration Gala included dinner and a silent auction with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit. For more information about 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs and services, visit

About the Institute for Educational Advancement

The Institute for Educational Advancement (优蜜视频) is dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation鈥檚 gifted and high-potential youth. Central to the mission of 优蜜视频 is a commitment to the development of the whole child through engaging educational experiences that promote optimal challenge, mentorship, exploration of ideas, and recognition of personal potential. 优蜜视频 seeks to connect gifted individuals through dynamic and engaging year-round programming. Additionally, 优蜜视频 supports a diverse community that creates a sense of belonging and affirmation. For more information, visit .

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Pasadena, Calif. 鈥� 8/9/2023 鈥� The Institute for Educational Advancement(优蜜视频), a national nonprofit dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation鈥檚 gifted and advanced learners, will transform their outdoor space in Pasadena, CA into an Outdoor Multi-Use Classroom and Activity Space. This project was funded in part by a grant from the Pasadena Community Foundation with additional funding from another local foundation. 优蜜视频 also recently received a generous grant from the Joseph Drown Foundation for general operating expenses. The support from organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people in the greater Pasadena area during the 优蜜视频鈥檚 milestone 25^th anniversary is critical as the nonprofit looks to deepen its reach to more underserved communities within Los Angeles County and increase capacity for the next 25 years.

Outdoor spaces for learning opportunities and community gatherings have become increasingly important as 优蜜视频 strives to support healthy learning experiences for its students and families. The pandemic reinforced the value of supporting high-quality teaching and learning in outdoor spaces. Access to outdoor learning experiences has been credited with helping to reduce stress and increase concentration as well as an overall sense of emotional well-being for children.

The new outdoor classroom will include a shade pergola, drought-tolerant landscaping, lighting, secure fencing and resurfaced asphalt for improved safety and accessibility for all students, teachers and staff. Students enrolled in 优蜜视频鈥檚 dynamic educational programming, which includes enrichment classes on a wide variety of subjects, will benefit from the additional classroom space as they conduct experiments and research, play games, improve creativity, and explore their passions in the fresh air. The outdoor classroom will also provide a venue to host community gatherings and special 优蜜视频 events. The new Outdoor Multi-Use Classroom and Activity Space is expected to be completed in early 2024.

鈥淥ur Learning Center, housed inside a historic building, has been an inviting and 鈥榟ome-like鈥� place for our students,鈥� said Elizabeth Jones, president and co-founder, Institute for Educational Advancement. 鈥淭he funding from local organizations like the Pasadena Community Foundation will help us provide private, safe, and secure outdoor spaces for our students that will open up exciting new learning opportunities to support gifted children, an underserved population in Los Angeles County and beyond.鈥�

For 25 years, 优蜜视频 has believed that every child deserves access to the most appropriate educational opportunities and individual support they need to thrive and pursue their full intellectual and personal potential. Recognized as one of the nation鈥檚 leading organizations supporting the needs of gifted youth, 优蜜视频 is one of the only nonprofit organizations providing a robust array of services in Los Angeles County. Since its inception, 优蜜视频 has supported over 11,000 students. The nonprofit is focused on transforming the lives of advanced learners by identifying and serving intellectually curious and creative thinkers of all backgrounds in a safe learning environment.

For more information about 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs and services, please visit or follow on , , and .

About the Institute for Educational Advancement

The Institute for Educational Advancement (优蜜视频) is dedicated to the intellectual, creative, and personal growth of our nation鈥檚 gifted and high-potential youth. Central to the mission of 优蜜视频 is a commitment to the development of the whole child through engaging educational experiences that promote optimal challenge, mentorship, exploration of ideas, and recognition of personal potential. 优蜜视频 seeks to connect like-minded individuals through dynamic and engaging year-round programming. Additionally, 优蜜视频 supports a diverse community that creates a sense of belonging and affirmation. For more information, visit .

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Are you a high school student looking for a dynamic, challenging summer experience? Look no further than the ! Here are five reasons why you should join us this summer.

1. Hands-On Experience

鈥�I learned what a career in research looks like, I gained a lot of confidence from being independent and verbally participating in meetings, I gained lots of experience in the field of data science. These are all important because they have helped me grow personally and academically and set me apart from other students.鈥� -2016 Alum

EXPLORE externs don鈥檛 get the stereotypical intern experience of fetching coffee, doing routine office work and entering data. Instead, they get a unique, hands-on opportunity to assist with research at prominent institutions across Los Angeles. Additionally, they gain first-hand knowledge about working in a professional setting.

2. Intellectually-Challenging Placements

听鈥淏efore I started the program, I had no prior work experience, so I didn鈥檛 really know what to expect [鈥while this externship was no doubt challenging, it did help bolster my confidence in my own abilities [鈥 that I do have the proper skill set to succeed within this industry.鈥�-2017 Alum

Designed for advanced learners, . Students have an opportunity to work in university laboratories and professional environments where they help to conduct research aimed at solving real-world problems. 听They are challenged to discover their talents and are encouraged to pursue their full potential.

3. Grow Your Network

鈥�I feel EXPLORE really addresses the importance of networking and explained how to do so very well and showed the importance of teamwork.鈥� -2017 Alum

Through the EXPLORE program, students build a strong support system that can last a lifetime. They can make connections with mentors and organization employees who can provide educational guidance and personal insights in the career field, and become part of a community of like-minded peers who share similar goals and passions . They also learn the importance of networking and how to expand their professional connections.

4. Personal and Professional Growth

鈥�I learned many things I didn鈥檛 previously know about myself. One of these is that, when given space and time and I put in my full effort, I can be very creative and productive.鈥�-2017 Alum

Students spend the summer strengthening their professional skills by immersing themselves in stimulating and intensive learning experiences and working alongside leaders and experts in their particular field of study. Once a week, they join with fellow externs to participate in college and career workshops focused on topics such as public speaking, applying to college, interviewingand resume writing. Both aspects of the extern experience aim to encourage students to actualizetheir full professional and personal potential.

5. Guidance from Distinguished Professionals

鈥淚 really enjoyed seeing a young, hopeful, intelligent and hard-working student. It made me believe that our future is in good hands and minds!鈥�-EXPLORE Mentor

One of the most unique aspects of the EXPLORE program is that it matches high school students with in their field of choice, something normally reserved for students at the university level. These mentors provide guidance that we hope will last long beyond the duration of the program.

Are you ready to EXPLORE this summer? Apply by April 16^th to join this summer鈥檚 cohort!

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Fall is here. School has started again, and the wonderful freedom and chaos of summer has come to an end. As a parent, I do my best to embrace the fullness of each summer season. The loosening of the scheduling belt, the extended bedtimes, invitations for play and rest, and the messy, frivolous fun. But to be honest, by the tenth week, I鈥檓 ready for it all to be over. For the routine to resume, the schedules to be set, and for the intensity to diminish. Often for families of gifted children, the summer can be a time of , or it can be a season of , boredom or frustration for parent and child.

With the passing of each season, and the beginning of each new year, I am reminded of how parenting is a long-distance journey. Sometimes it feels as if I am just 鈥渟urviving鈥� each passing season, while experiencing the fullness of life and living from a place of intentionality eludes me. My deep desire is to live each season of my child鈥檚 development being engaged, present, and intentional. This is far from being a 鈥減erfect parent,” and includes giving myself permission to not necessarily like each challenge and struggle that my child and I face. Rather it is about making sure that I show up and be present with and for my child. To be able to attain this desire, I have to regularly practice awareness of my own strengths, resources, and most of all, my own needs.

As parents we are so diligent in preparing our child for their future, making sure that their academic, relational, and physical needs are met. Additionally, parenting gifted, 2e, and can pose a unique strain on our personal and internal resources. Yet, as parents, we often neglect our own needs for connection, renewal, and personal growth. We鈥檝e all heard the saying before, 鈥淧ut on your own oxygen mask first before assisting another person.鈥� Tending to our own physical, emotional, intellectual, relational, and spiritual needs is vital for our own health and well-being, but also for our children鈥檚. Daily, our children are seeing a model in us of what adulthood looks like. How we tend to our health, growth, or relationships can set a valuable example to them that
they may emulate in their own lives.

For me, the beginning of a new school year has become a time to reevaluate my own life and needs, and set new intentions for the season ahead. This fall, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on your own life. I like to call it a 鈥渓ife inventory.鈥� Reflect on the five domain life areas and which ones you tend to favor or nurture, and which tend to be forgotten or even dismissed. Ask yourself the sustainability question: 鈥淗ow long could I go on this way, and what would be the results?鈥� Sometimes the answer to that question can be fairly revealing or shocking. After taking inventory, set some intentions for yourself to develop some of your more tender areas. This isn鈥檛 about packing your schedule with more 鈥渢o do鈥檚鈥� or activities for yourself. It鈥檚 about listening deeply to your life, and recognizing what changes you need to pursue to bring about more intentionality, meaning, and wholehearted living. Not only will you be refueled for the continued journey at hand, but I fully believe that our children will benefit from us modeling a life well-lived with purposeful engagement and authenticity. Wishing you a wonderful fall season, and may we all never stop learning and growing!

For those readers in the Pasadena/Los Angeles area, beginning on September 26th I am leading an eight week parenting support group for mothers raising children with high emotional intensity. This unique group provides a place to share with other mothers, give and receive support, and to reflect on yourself as a parent. If you鈥檙e looking for an opportunity to grow in your own awareness and move towards intentional parenting听then go to to learn more.

Michelle Bodwell, LMFT, ATR specializes in providing individual and group therapy for women in all seasons of life. Her goal is to provide each woman with a safe and therapeutic place to explore their feelings, be supported, find creative solutions to problems, and to become a more fully integrated whole person. She is a mother to two amazing gifted sons, who have been by far, her best teachers in life.

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With elections right around the corner, and the MLB Playoffs in action, I have been thinking about a topic which often intrigues me: Us and Them.

Simon Sinek, in his presentation titled, shares an anecdote.

鈥淗ow many of you are from New York? Are you friends with everybody in New York? No.听 But when you go to Los Angeles and you meet someone from New York you鈥檙e like, 鈥楬ey, I鈥檓 from New York!鈥� and you鈥檙e best friends.听 And when you go to France, you鈥檙e on the Paris Metro minding your own business and you hear an American accent behind you, you turn around and you say, 鈥楬ey, where are you from?鈥� and they say, 鈥業鈥檓 from Los Angeles,鈥� and you say, 鈥業鈥檓 from New York!鈥� and you鈥檙e best friends.鈥�

Sinek shares that, 鈥渨hen you鈥檙e surrounded by people who don鈥檛 believe what you believe, when you鈥檙e in a strange environment where you don鈥檛 feel comfortable, you look for anyone who may share some of the same values and beliefs that you have and you start to build a very real bond with them.鈥�

Feeling a sense of belonging is a basic need, according to Maslow鈥檚 hierarchy.听 Rooting for the same sports team is an example of finding a common ground, and creating a sense of belonging. So is joining a club or attending meetings for hobbies.

But what happens when your affiliation creates a polarizing scenario?听 Or when you are on one side of a controversial issue?

Stephen R. Covey, in his seminal book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People talks about creating Win-Win situations.听 While this has become an easy catchphrase / joke, the meaning behind it was instrumental in shaping negotiations and arbitration for years.听 The concept is, rather than approach a topic as 鈥淢y Way or Your Way,鈥� in which case someone inevitably loses; or as a compromise, in which case BOTH parties lose something in order to gain something; Covey discusses a third possibility which is to approach the problem from the same side.听 After all, we are all trying to solve something and we are committed to the best for everyone, aren鈥檛 we?

This is easy to see in areas such as contract negotiations, discussions on favorite books, and project development, but more difficult with controversial issues such as climate change or civil rights discussions.

It is almost as if we were to draw a Venn Diagram of What I Believe and What You Believe and, somewhere in the middle, we would find areas that we have in common.

It becomes difficult when examining choices that must inform our futures, such as political discussions or whether or not to have children.听 Religion, gender issues, animal rights, where to build a freeway; these are all topics that require in-depth discussions and cannot be viewed from one side or the other to have any impact.听 Yet, they are areas where emotions run high and, as humans, we have difficulty putting our 鈥渢ruths鈥� aside to see another point-of-view.

One of my college professors demonstrated this challenge perfectly when she told the story of a standoff between loggers and the local environmentalists.听 One side said, 鈥淒on鈥檛 you love trees and breathing and nature?鈥� and the other side said, 鈥渄on鈥檛 you live in houses and buy toilet paper?鈥�

When discussing ideas such as Race, Nation, Ethnic Group, Class, and Ideology in his book, Us and Them, David Berreby says these concepts 鈥� mental images of categories that people use to get through their lives.听 As such, these ideas are like any other thought: they have a birthdate in human history, in a time when they arose for particular reasons, belonging to the people who devised them.鈥�

In another section of The 7 Habits, Covey shares that, in order to feel at peace and to be effective, you must focus on working inside of your Circle of Influence.听 Unfortunately, most of us focus on our Circle of Concern; a great majority of that area is something we can do nothing about.听 His advice is to expand our circle of influence to be able to affect our areas of concern, but not to dwell on things we have no control over.听 Simple, in theory, but something that requires daily practice, especially with media of both the journalistic and social kinds.

So when we鈥檙e looking at ways to reach a decision on a tough issue, such as who to vote for or steps to take to alleviate our impact on the environment, it might be useful to put aside existing opinions of each side and try to see where the other person is coming from, just for a moment, and look for any common ground.

Unless it鈥檚 the World Series.听 In which case, 鈥淕o Cubs.鈥�

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鈥淭ell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.鈥�

Benjamin Franklin鈥檚 quote embodies the sort of impact a mentor can have in a young person鈥檚 life. Mentors are truly extraordinary individuals who are willing to share and dedicate their time, expertise, knowledge and skills to positively influence the lives of young people. They get them involved in relevant work and activities that extend beyond the confines of their classroom and nurtures their interests and passions.

This summer, 优蜜视频 introduced its reimagined mentorship program for high school students, EXPLORE, which is short for Externships Providing Leadership Opportunities for Research and Education. In its inaugural year, 22 highly motivated and exceptional high school students were selected to extern at 12 mentor sites throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, including Art Center College of Design, Caltech, Children鈥檚 Hospital Los Angeles, CoachArt, Kadenze, and various departments within UCLA and USC. While most students were Los Angeles natives, others traveled from out-of-state, including Rhode Island, Illinois, and Washington, to spend a summer immersed in research work. They represented a diverse population of learners from different cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. They also brought with them unique talents and an impressive list of academic and personal accolades.

To kick off the program, all externs participated in a day-long Professional Development Orientation hosted at the Art Center College of Design, one of 优蜜视频鈥檚 long-standing mentor sites. During orientation, students met their fellow externs, participated in team building activities, listened to a talk from Caltech Mentor Dr. Lynne Hillenbrand, and learned about professional skills to prepare them for their externship.

For most high school students, there are few opportunities in a traditional classroom to delve into an area of study for an extended period of time. Their daily schedule and academic grind often forces them to spread their focus on a laundry list of classes, assignments, exams and extra-curricular activities. EXPLORE externs, however, had the unique opportunity to apply their learning beyond the classroom and pursue their passions and interests in a specific field of study. Each extern engaged in two to six weeks of summer research work and projects with mentors who were preeminent professionals in their field. Externs worked in a variety of professional settings, from research laboratories and university classrooms to business offices and creative tech spaces. Externs based in academic lab settings were exposed to the often arduous, but intellectually stimulating, task of reading research papers on their topic, running lab tests, learning new computer programming language, compiling and analyzing data, and contributing their findings in a final research paper. Conversely, externs based at creative sites participated in hands-on workshops to strengthen their artistic skills, collaborated on projects with college-level students and professionals, gained exposure to new technologies for producing artistic works, and learned about the important roles and operations within a successful organization. Externs not only conducted real-world, college-level research, and were exposed to a variety of professional environments, but they also learned valuable life skills like taking public transportation to work and navigating their way around large college campuses.

Upon completion of the program, externs presented their final research or project during EXPLORE鈥檚 Culmination Celebrations, held at the Barder House on July 8^th and July 22^nd. During these events, we celebrated the accomplishments of our externs and learned about the impressive work they completed at their respective sites. Students presented on such research topics as: statistical trends in the use of the word 鈥渆volve鈥� and its variants, liposome synthesis, drawbridge message authentication, analytical technologies to measure human performance, and necrotizing enterocolitis. The hard work and level of sophistication of each research project was evident as each extern spoke eloquently and proudly about their work. There is no doubt that these talented young people will be paving the way for innovative research in the future.

In addition to having a brilliant cohort of EXPLORE externs, the program would not be possible without the support of our Mentors who cultivated their skills, talents, and interests. 优蜜视频 would like to extend our gratitude to EXPLORE 2016 Mentors:

If you are a high school student who would like to gain real-world experience and study a specific field of interest, consider applying to EXPLORE next summer! Check out the for updates about deadlines and future mentor sites.

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Ni帽a Abonal graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a B.A. in Business Administration and a minor in Elementary Education. She later returned to LMU to earn听her Master of Arts in Educational Studies. With a decade of experience working听in educational non-profits, she has taken on various roles including tutoring K-8 students in all subject areas, providing SAT prep, serving as a college advisor for a virtual college access program, and coordinating internships for high school students. During her free time, she enjoys volunteering, hiking, exploring new places to eat, and spending time with her family. She is eager to continue her passion working with youth at 优蜜视频 and hopes to continually seek innovative ways to improve the quality of and access to educational resources for all students.

优蜜视频 recently hosted a Gifted Child Parent Support Group Meeting that featured a homeschooling parent panel where local parents shared their experiences and perspectives 鈥� both positive and negative 鈥� on homeschooling their gifted student. As part of the discussion, panelists and attendees shared gifted homeschooling resources and recommendations (below) which have stood the test of time and experience with their highly able learner. Many of these resources are local to the Los Angeles and Pasadena, California area, but many are offered nationwide as well.

For All Gifted Learners:

Schools for Gifted Learners:

(project-based learning; not specifically gifted)

Colleges & Universities:

Evening and Weekend Lectures at Local Colleges and Universities (see individual school websites for calendar list of events)

P.E. Options for Homeschoolers:

Local Parks and Recreation Departments (see your local city鈥檚 department website for offerings)

Curriculum, Charter Schools & Online Resources for Homeschoolers:

(优蜜视频 is a vendor)

Homeschool L.A.

Local Public Library (homeschoolers can get a special library card for educators)

(优蜜视频 is a vendor)

Meetup Groups and Additional Social Opportunities:

听

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Are there any resources you have found helpful in homeschooling your gifted child? Please share in the comment section below.

听

Every gifted听person has a unique story. The following story is part of a series of posts depicting the many faces of gifted by听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.

Megan Prichard
优蜜视频 Apprentice at CNN in 2000
Consultant, McKinsey & Company, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Twelve years ago, Southern California teenager Megan Prichard spent two weeks of her summer break at CNN in Atlanta, Georgia. She wasn鈥檛 in Atlanta on vacation. She was taking part in the Institute for Educational Advancement鈥檚 Apprenticeship Program. Megan and seven other outstanding high school students were mentored by experienced CNN personnel in all areas of production, research, writing and editing of videos and on-line stories.

鈥淚 created a news clip for live air about an issue relevant to America鈥檚 youth,鈥� Megan explained. Because of her experience at CNN, she was asked to create a piece about youth perspectives on politics during the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. 鈥淏eing at the convention and interviewing political figures about how they would address the issues facing young people was a very empowering experience.鈥�

Megan was interested in the Apprenticeship Program because it gave her a chance to have an internship at a well-known organization like CNN and offered her real world work experience at a young age.

鈥淢y Apprenticeship experience greatly expanded the way I thought about the world and my ability to shape it. I realized that, even despite my young age, I could make meaningful contributions on a national scale.鈥�

After graduating from Yale with a degree in Economics, Megan joined a boutique consulting firm that advised large endowments, such as The Gates Foundation and World Wildlife Foundation, about how to donate philanthropic money to maximize social returns.

鈥淚n my spare time, I was very interested in entrepreneurship. That fall, I won Yale鈥檚 Y2K Business Plan Competition and received seed money to start my own company. After opening and closing www.justmovedhere.com, a social networking and city guide website designed to facilitate the moving process, I went to USC Law. While in law school, I worked with the Surfrider Foundation and a transactional law firm that focused on serving start-ups. My final year of USC Law, I wrote a dissertation about corporate governance standards in Brazil. Coincidentally, the professor who supervised the paper鈥檚 childhood best friend was a partner at McKinsey S茫o Paulo. I met her while visiting Brazil to do interviews for the dissertation, and she convinced me to join McKinsey.鈥�

Megan currently is an Associate with McKinsey & Company in S茫o Paulo, Brazil. McKinsey is a global management consulting firm that acts as trusted advisers for the world鈥檚 leading businesses, governments, and institutions.

鈥淎s an Associate with McKinsey, I help clients in a wide variety of industries to solve their most complex business problems. Amongst other engagements, I have helped a heavy industrial client improve its manufacturing operations, created a growth strategy for a pharmaceutical distributor, and helped a client in the transport sector create a post-merger strategy and integrate its operations.鈥�

Megan sums up her 优蜜视频 Apprenticeship experience by saying, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to challenge yourself and spend a summer learning from industry leaders.鈥�

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

I am probably most energized by gifted kids鈥� excitement to know and understand the world. So often, their desire to question and explore is dampened by teachers who want them to stay on task, peers who pressure them to fit in, and parents who aren鈥檛 sure how to meet their children鈥檚 insatiable need to know. It is this motivation and drive that makes the gifted so likely to shape our future 鈥� to contribute inventions, innovations, and discoveries to our world. I love the spark of curiosity I see in all the kids we work with and want to do what I can to fan that spark into a flame!

2. What is one thing you think every family with a gifted child should know?

So often parents will call or email and talk about how unique their child鈥檚 situation is 鈥� how few equal peers they have, how they present a novel challenge to their school structures, how what they deal with is unlike what they see around them. As someone who administers programs for the gifted, I can assure them: 鈥淵ou are not alone.鈥� There are others out there who have the same struggles, the same challenges, and the same wonderful gifts. What I love about Yunasa camps, and about all of 优蜜视频鈥檚 programs, is that we provide the opportunity for the gifted to connect听鈥� across the country and sometimes across the world 鈥� with others who are like them and who share their experiences, joys, and challenges. To observe the strong friendships and lasting community forged in our programs among our constituents is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

3. Why do you enjoy focusing on the program that you do?

Yunasa camps are my main focus as a Program Coordinator. All our programs are wonderful and rewarding opportunities, but I particularly enjoy working with Yunasa because of the opportunity to go to camp! I love the outdoors; that I get to go kayaking or build a Nature Sculpture with campers as a part of my job is unbelievable! I am also immensely grateful that I am able to work so closely with our Yunasa Fellows, world-renowned experts in the field of giftedness, and wise, kind, sensitive people from whom I personally have learned a great deal.

4. What鈥檚 your favorite Yunasa tradition?

Yunasa summer camps, as with most summer camps, are rich with traditions that are handed down from year to year. My favorite tradition might be the opening and closing ceremonies. The campfire, the drum beat, and the songs are the same, but the feeling is so different from the beginning of the week to the end. I love feeling how the traditions have deepened with the campers over the span of just one week!

5. What鈥檚 your favorite snack food?

I love cheese more than is probably healthy. I love a spread of cheese, crackers, fruits, and meats. It feels 鈥渇ancy鈥� but is excessively easy to put together!

6. What鈥檚 a movie you watched recently that you liked?

I recently watched 鈥淧aper Moon,鈥� which I loved. It has Ryan and Tatum O鈥橬eal, a real-life father and daughter playing a father and daughter con artist team in the movie. Tatum O鈥橬eal was the youngest actor ever to receive an Academy Award, which she won for her portrayal in this movie at age 10. It was made in 1973, is set in the Great Depression, and is funny, witty, and moving.

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

I鈥檓 a voracious reader, so I spend a lot of time doing that! Since moving to Pasadena, I鈥檝e tried to take advantage of being so close to the San Rafael Hills and San Gabriel Mountains and get in a lot of hikes! I also very much enjoy exploring around Los Angeles 鈥� Chinatown, Our Lady of the Angels cathedral, Little Tokyo, Olvera St. Taking the metro around L.A. and finding new places to explore and cultural opportunities to benefit from make me glad to live in such a vibrant city! Recently, I took up the ukulele 鈥� though I鈥檓 far from proficient, it鈥檚 come in handy for a sing-along or two. Sadly, I don鈥檛 think it will fit in my carry-on for camp!

There are still a few spots left for this summer鈥檚 and camps. Apply today to join Amy and the Yunasa Fellows in Colorado or Michigan!

Have your kids been to Yunasa or a camp that allowed them to connect with other kids like them? Please share your experience in the comment section below!

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