“One of the most valuable experiences a gifted student can have is exposure to a mentor who is willing to share personal values, a particular interest, time, talent and skills. When the experience is properly structured and the mentor is a good match for the student, the relationship can provide both mentor and student with encouragement, inspiration, new insights and other personal rewards”. This eloquently put statement by Sandra Berger in her article encapsulates what our student’s takeaways have been from EXPLORE Mentor program.

We know that being a gifted child can be difficult. They can experience self-doubt and low self-esteem as they attempt to understand their abilities and navigate relationships and experiences among their peers, often feeling misunderstood and unseen.

This is where a role model in the form of a mentor can be beneficial to a gifted child. Mentors allow children trying to understand their unique gifts and talents an avenue to share interests, passions, thoughts and doubts in a constructive, supportive space.

This is what we aim to do in the , by intentionally matching Externs and Mentors that they may thrive, experiencing validation and support by someone who understands and can guide them.

At the culmination of EXPLORE each year, Externs share the impact of the program and how their mentor has helped shape their career aspirations, given them the confidence to follow their dreams, and provided them with useful tools that will enrich their professional and interpersonal experiences in the future.

Here is what they had to say about their mentors.

鈥淭he most important things I learned, from Dr. Yeh, were the hands-on wet-lab techniques and how to turn questions into experiments. Having this experience at a young age allows me a better chance at thriving in my career field.鈥� – Abheerava Koka, EXPLORE 2019

鈥淲orking at SIMA, with Michael and Virginia, I realized how much social impact really means to me, especially in a world where these issues are becoming more prominent and sparking more debates amongst different groups of people. I hope to find a career where I can apply what I鈥檝e learned.鈥� 鈥� Nikki Wu, EXPLORE 2019

鈥淚 learned how to interact with others in a professional manner. Some skills can only be learned in a job environment, which I knew, but this summer reminded me how important 鈥渞eal life鈥� experiences truly are.鈥� 鈥� Cindy Xie, EXPLORE 2019

鈥淲orking with my mentors at Sci-Arc really helped me overcome the shyness in me. Before I struggled to ask for help but know I feel more comfortable doing so.鈥� 鈥� Emily Aguilar Sanchez, EXPLORE 2019

THANK YOU to all our who have dedicated their time and talent to supporting and encouraging the gifted students in this program.

We are excited to share who will be joining us as Mentors for EXPLORE 2020. Thank you to Dr. Christopher Barnes, Dr. Pamela Yeh, Stan Kong, Betty Kassis, Toby Harper, Monica Fernandez, Dr. Amy Catlin-Jairazbhoy, Dr. Aaron Blaisdell, Dr. Sasha Wright and the many more professionals who have committed to mentoring a gifted youth as they explore their passions this summer. We look forward to hearing how you have impacted their lives this year.

about the 2020 EXPLORE Program. 优蜜视频 is also still looking for qualified mentors to join the 2020 cohort. Email us at explore@educationaladvancement.org if you are interested in becoming an EXPLORE mentor.

As we progress through life, we continue to expand our networks and relationships with people in various academic, professional and personal circles. If we are lucky enough, we stumble upon a handful of individuals who nurture our skills and talents, challenge us to achieve our full potential and provide us with guidance through life鈥檚 obstacles. These people become valued mentors who can leave a profound impact on our overall development and growth.

When it comes to the development of gifted youth, mentoring can matter. Studies conducted by Christian Fischer(1) and J.J. Gallagher(2) show that:

• What highly gifted students need most are good mentors to serve as guides as they navigate complex subject matter.
• Mentorships are particularly effective in guiding the development of gifted young people through difficult formative years.
• Mentoring experiences help remove the barriers to advanced learning that schools can sometimes create.

Mentors are invaluable, and often, untapped resources young people should take advantage of. They come in all shapes and sizes and bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and experiences that can help young people navigate important life decisions and challenges, like choosing the right college or exploring a career path. Through mentoring relationships, gifted students are able to mature, explore future careers and successes, apply classroom knowledge, and gain role models (Berger, 1990). Confiding in mentor also provides a safety net for young people to know someone is genuinely invested in them and they are not dealing with a problem alone. Research has shown that mentoring relationships can leave a powerful and positive impression in a young person鈥檚 life, and ultimately becomes a strong connection to possible social and economic opportunities.

Reflecting on the impact of mentors, I was fortunate enough to find a mentor who willingly took me under her wings. Feeling a bit lost in my own purpose and path in life, she not only offered me my first job in college as a tutor, but also allowed me to realize my true calling and passion for education and helping young people succeed. She saw something in me that even I, at the time, could not see in myself. With her unrelenting encouragement, I wholeheartedly pursued a path in the field of education and continued my thirst for learning in graduate school. The once treacherous waters of academic聽and professional life seemed less daunting with her support and guidance. I found myself with a more distinct path towards a life of purpose. As our mentoring relationship progressed through聽the years, she became more than just my boss, but also my trusted mentor, valued colleague and life-long friend. She鈥檚 left an indelible imprint in my life and our mentoring relationship continues to evolve as I enter different stages in my life.

As a professional, I was inspired by my mentoring relationship and wanted to pay it forward. I took on various roles in education where I met and mentored some amazingly brilliant young people who were driven to succeed despite the barriers they faced along the way. Now as a Program Coordinator at 优蜜视频, I have an opportunity to continue working with exceptional youth through.

EXPLORE matches gifted and high potential high schoolers with distinguished mentors who share their interests and passions. Under the guidance of their mentors, students advance their skills through hands-on learning experiences and research work. Students also grow intellectually through collaborative discussions and work with like-minded peers and mentors in a field of their interest. EXPLORE Mentors are eager to share their wisdom and experiences with students. They continue to dedicate their time, expertise, knowledge and skills with EXPLORE students because of the remarkable potential and work they perform with them each summer.

Mentoring can matter and it’s never too late to seek out a mentor! EXPLORE the amazing mentors and sites for this summer at聽 and submit an application today!

Resources:

Fischer, Christian. Scientific American, Gifted Children: How to Bring Out Their Potential, September, 2008, http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=coaching-the-gifted-child.

Gallagher, J.J. Teaching the gifted child. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 1985.

Berger, Sandra. Mentor Relationships and Gifted Learners, 1990, http://www.davidsongifted.org/db/Articles_id_10141.aspx.

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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聽her Master of Arts in Educational Studies. With a decade of experience working聽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 professional 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.