- Realize that being gifted is being different, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. Many people do not fit into the one-size-fits-all structure of America’s schools. Read about the experiences of other gifted young people, the challenges they’ve faced and their coping strategies in the article Giftedness: Personal perspectives.
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- Don’t be afraid to speak up! Many gifted students want to fit in more than anything else and so they may not tell their parents that they are constantly being made to “relearn” what they already know. School exists to help all students learn. Share your frustration in a polite fashion with your parents and teachers and talk with them about ways to make your academic work more challenging. Come to these discussions with practical solutions.
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- Teachers may tune out complaints about boredom, but they will likely listen if you show that you have already mastered the material you are being asked to learn. Try suggesting a parallel project you could do instead or a distance learning option you could substitute.
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- Learn how to communicate your concerns calmly and with conviction. Be respectful of others and try to understand their point of view. Sometimes an effective strategy is to show that you understand the other person’s position before trying to convince them of your position.
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- Research contests and competitions you would like to participate in. Use the Davidson Database to search for “competitions” and “gifted programs.”
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- Read widely and deeply! Find books on subjects that interest you and read as much as you can. Keep a journal. Engage yourself in the community. Join book clubs, attend literary events, join a writer’s group and immerse yourself in language. Get started by looking for book lists online. Check out our list of “Gifted Students’ Favorite Books and Authors”.
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- Develop diverse friendships with individuals of different ages. It’s okay if many of your friends are older. Friendships are built on shared interests, not on shared birth dates. Ask your parents to help you become involved in mixed-aged groups (such as Scout troops or volunteer groups or summer camps) where you can spend time with people of different ages.
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- Explore alternative schooling environments. Search the Davidson Database to find out if your state has schools for gifted students, and for “early college”.
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- Research policies and laws that affect high-ability learners in your district and state. Write letters, speak at meetings and help communicate the message that all students, even gifted learners, should have the right to learn in school. You can find information on the gifted policies in your state or the nation in the Davidson Database State Policy section.
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- Develop your talents. Try to find out what you love to do more than anything else in the world. Ask your parents or family friends or teachers to help you find someone who can teach you the intricacies of your field of interest.
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-Excerpted from Genius Denied, pp. 175-177, with minor modification in content and links added.
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