Meet Athena (name changed for privacy)

She’s 10-years-old, and her parent says “She LOVES to read and frequently has a thick book in her hands. I don’t find candy under her pillow and bed. I find books!”  I relate to this!  As a kid, I was the one hiding books because if my mom figured out I was reading when I was supposed to be asleep, I would have gotten in trouble!

Here is what Athena had to say:

1.  What is your passion or your current interest?

Cooking and learning about history. I also like to read. (See parent’s correction above.)

 

2.  What is the one thing you wish you could tell the world about being gifted?

Gifted is not what people think it is. People think that everything is easy for people or kids who are gifted.

 

3.  What is your greatest strength, and your most difficult weakness as a gifted kid?

My greatest strength is in reading. My difficult weakness is not getting bored and tuning out.

 

4.  Are you homeschooled, in a gifted program, or mainstream school?  Which one would you prefer if you were offered the choice?

I am in a mainstream school. I would prefer homeschool or a private school for gifted kids as long as I could connect to kids like me or kids who could be my friend.

 

5.  Do you  want to hide being gifted or celebrate it?

I want to celebrate it.

 

6. Do you have a mentor?  And if so, has that helped you grow and learn as a person?

Not really.

 

7. What’s the one thing you want to accomplish before you become an adult?

I really want to figure out my career choice and start to strive towards it.

 

8. If you were able to instantly change the word “Gifted” to something different, what would you pick? Why?

I would pick “highly talented” or “extremely capable” because that is what we are. That implies that we didn’t just know it, we had to work to get where we are. Some people are like, “Oh, it is always easy for them because they are gifted.” That’s not true.

 

9. What do you want us to know about you?

What do you mean? I don’t really know.

 

10. If you were given the chance to be on the first colony ship off earth, would you go?  Why?

Well, it depends on the condition of earth. If I could still live on earth I would. If my relatives we all gone I would probably go. I would go to the next inhabitable plant because it would be the closest and shortest space trip.

 

11.  Are all kids gifted?

It depends on your point of view. For example, if you are a mom you might say, “Yes, my kid is gifted” when everybody else says no. It also depends on your background and what you consider is gifted.

 

Thank you for giving us your viewpoint Athena!

 

Do you want to submit a response too?  Here are the list of questions: pick all or some, whatever works for you.

 

1.  What is your passion or your current interest?

2.  What is the one thing you wish you could tell the world about being gifted?

3.  What is your greatest strength, and your most difficult weakness as a gifted kid?

4.  Are you homeschooled, in a gifted program, or mainstream school?  Which one would you prefer if you were offered the choice?

5.  Do you  want to hide being gifted or celebrate it?

6. Do you have a mentor?  And if so, has that helped you grow and learn as a person?

7. What’s the one thing you want to accomplish before you become an adult?

8. If you were able to instantly change the word “Gifted” to something different, what would you pick? Why?

9. What do you want us to know about you?

10. If you were given the chance to be on the first colony ship off earth, would you go?  Why?

11.  Are all kids gifted?

12. Tell us what it feels like to be you.

 

Then send them to me using this form: