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Sherrlene Uy

Teacher - English and Research, Glendale School, Inc. (QC, Phil)

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What are the challenges that gifted and creative individuals face at present?

Hi everyone! I am working on a research about the gifted and creative individuals. I'd like to know what are the challenges that the gifted and creative people experience in your country. Share your thoughts please :) Thanks!

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    Leo Taylor

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    Feb 18 2013: Interesting question and I agree with a lot of what is posted. Taking all these ideas and boiling them down to fundamentals I see challenges in the societal structure that is not geared to allow the gifted people to thrive. Take Mozart as an example. He was lucky enough (or fortunate, or fate allowed, etc) to be born in a musical family that allowed his gift to be recognized AND nurtured. He did, however, spend a great deal of his life making money and taking commissions to survive.

    So, what if right at this moment there is a girl in the Philippines with the same gift that will never be known to mankind. OR, a person on this forum with a remarkable gift (for anything: painting, science, poetry) but will never be recognized because they must go to an office so they can do a job to pay for rent.

    Our educational system is standardized. Not all students get full assessment tests of abilities (and on going assessments as many talents appear late in life). They must make time for procuring funding. (grants or perhaps just making a living).

    We, as a race, are getting better at allowing ability to thrive. More and more people can and are recognized for talents, But until our culture changes to an attitude of "This is important. We will focus on ability. We will let the human condition thrive." I fear that extraordinary ability will run into the same challenges it has for thousands of years. And when we think of the "greats" Socrates, Mozart, Einstein. etc. We have to wonder. What if..... What if Socrates was not forced to drink poison. OR What if Einstein did not have to take a job as a patent clerk. (btw, fantastic story about how this helped him derive his theories)

    LOL.... then again. Some people argue (and with some merit) That those challenges helped them be great.

    I still would like to see a world wide movement to recognize and aid the gifted.
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      Pabitra Mukhopadhyay 30+

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      Feb 18 2013: I believe everyone has a some form of creativity which may or may not be discovered and expressed but by gift I understand a talent that will shine through whether or not it is nurtured. The combination of being gifted and creative is certainly not common in everybody. My opinion entirely.
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      Sherrlene Uy

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      Feb 21 2013: True! While some think that these challenges may be as great motivations, others may take these as more of "depressants".

      It is frustrating to know that we are blessed with so many gifted people yet we lack the opportunities to give them and the chances to show what they can do and contribute

    • Gerri K

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      Feb 24 2013: I'm with you Leo - I think far too many of the gifted in this world are beaten down and forced into lockstep with our American form of education, which totally stifles creativity and does not encourage these kids enough. I know my daughter would be capable of so much, but as a totally bored 7th grader she couldn't care less now. It is so sad to watch that creativity be suppressed despite my trying to get her school's administration and teachers to do something about it.

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