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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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  • Marla Terrible

    • +1
    Mar 7 2013: I have added replies to a few responses below. To sum up: I believe the potential to be gifted and talented is spread across all classes and groups of people. It is more often noticed in poorer classes because those that succeed stand out more than in richer ones, where a minimum level of gifted and talented ability is expected. Note that the reverse is also true: failure among the rich stands out far more than success.

    My personal experiences as someone classified as gifted and talented have been less than stellar. My most pressing need that has not been met is that of guidance and support. Being exceptionally intelligent does not give one miraculous access to ideas on what to do when one grows up, nor does it guarantee financial, social or other success.

    Like many creative and intelligent people, I am not easily fitted into a single box. I now realize that one of my strengths is in collation and correlation of seemingly unrelated details...not an easily recognizable skill since by definition it cuts across categories. However, sometimes seeing the bigger picture has been more of a hindrance than a help for me.

    My own high standards and perfectionist tendencies have more than once led to my downfall, as I was overwhelmed by the number of potential options available, by the ability to perceive obstacles to achieving a goal, or by similar roadblocks to creative progress. What I needed growing up, and still need most, are practical problem solving skills, and ways to break up goals into manageable chunks.

    I dearly wish for a mentor who could introduce me to the right people to get what I want done accomplished. What I needed growing up was a mentor who could narrow my potential and give me focus. I need a starting direction, and the support to follow that direction to the end. Deny me that support and I become an average Joe, waving my hands in the air, only worse because I know I could do, could be, so much more...which is unbelievably frustrating and depressing.

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    • Donald Tran

      • 0
      Mar 8 2013: Right on the dot. You have said nearly all my pains and I can deeply sympathize with you. Thank you for sharing!

      • Marla Terrible

        • 0
        Mar 8 2013: Thanks to you, and to the other wonderful people here, I no longer feel so alone in my difficulties. Your support and fellow feeling has helped a great deal, as has the support of everyone who has replied or agreed with my posting. Thank you all for helping me keep going!

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