All About Being Gifted

     Being Gifted and Talented is a bittersweet quality to have. There are many pros and cons that come along with bring gifted. Throughout the years, being gifted has helped me in many areas, and has been bothersome in others. For example, there are many advantages to being gifted. I don't have to try as hard as other students to excel in classwork and other assignments, and school pretty much comes easy to me. This is a disadvantage in itself because eventually, I am going to have difficulties in studying or some sort of classwork, and I am not going to know proper studying techniques to help me excel. Also, another advantage would have to be my positive reputation. Most teachers at Northern know me, because of the classes I take and the grades I get. This can also be used as a disadvantage because even though I carry that positive reputation with me, I have to live up to standards and high expectations set by teachers that know what I am capable of. Another disadvantage of being gifted is the peer ridicule and expectations. Even though there are anti-bullying policies, etc, students still find a way to pick on the more advanced kids simply because we are just that, more advanced. Also, another disadvantage, is the peer pressure. I am known to be a smarter kid, who produces better grades and work, etc. Therefore, this automatically makes me a target to get copied off of. My peers think that I have the right answers, and will always come up to me asking to copy. Also, another disadvantage is the need to be "perfect". We all know, that perfection is impossible. But, according to my peers, because I am gifted and talented I am expected to get everything right all the time, and someone is sure to make a snide comment if I am ever to get something wrong. 
     Also, there are many different myths and truths about being a gifted child. The most common myths I have experienced are: gifted kids get excellent grades, gifted kids are only gifted in academics, and gifted kids are nerds. The truth is, not all gifted kids get straight A's; we still have problems in certain subjects just like your average student. Although we are expected to get straight A's, that doesn't mean it always happens. Each individual is different, and has different strengths and different struggles. In addition, not all gifted kids are gifted in academics. Most gifted kids have other talents in sports or music or theater, etc. Some kids can even be gifted in an extracurricular activity and not school. Once again, every child is different. Finally, not all gifted kids are "nerds". Some gifted kids can be in the popular crowd, and well rounded, while some are fine with being a quiet, more reserved student with a small group of friends. Again, every child is born different and likes to live their life differently. For example, according to the National Association for Gifted Children "Many gifted students flourish in their community and school environment.  However, some gifted children differ in terms of their emotional and moral intensity, sensitivity to expectations and feelings, perfectionism, and deep concerns about societal problems. Others do not share interests with their classmates, resulting in isolation or being labeled unfavorably as a “nerd.” Because of these difficulties, the school experience is one to be endured rather than celebrated.  It is estimated that 20 to 25% of gifted children have social and emotional difficulties, about twice as many as in the general population of students". In conclusion, every gifted child is different in their own way, and should be treated that way. The unwritten myths and expectations are usually unrealistic and should be perceived that way.