Self-awareness and personal growth
erroneously perceived myself as equivalent to the average person. Comprehending the concept of being gifted is a multilayered endeavour, one that significantly impacts self-understanding. For gifted youths, it is of paramount importance to gain insight into this facet of their identity during their developmental years, enabling them to tailor their life experiences to align with their unique needs. Drawing from my personal journey, discovering the concept of overexcitabilities and the underlying biological connections to them has significantly aided in validating my emotions. This newfound comprehension has illuminated the fact that, owing to my brain's inherent structure – an aspect beyond my control – my experience of emotions is notably heightened and more volatile. This realization dispelled the notion that these intense feelings were merely figments of my imagination. Furthermore, it fostered an understanding that my need for activities offering adequate stimulation is a fundamental requirement to maintain engagement and focus. This contrasted with the erroneous belief I once held about my supposed laziness and lack of motivation. Gaining insight into my identity as a gifted individual catalysed a profound acceptance of self, reshaping the lens through which I view myself. The value of self-awareness, particularly for young individuals on the cusp of adolescence, cannot be understated. It provides invaluable scaffolding for their personal development and maturation process. Despite the wealth of information accessible online, discussions about giftedness seldom occur in daily interactions, educational settings, or mainstream media unless actively sought out. The prevailing misconception that giftedness merely equates to higher intelligence in children perpetuates this gap in awareness. I firmly believe that being well-informed and attuned to one's own identity is an integral facet of progressing from adolescence to adulthood, playing an instrumental role in shaping one's character and outlook on life.
References
What is Giftedness? https://nagc.org/page/what-is-giftedness. Consulted: 13/8/23 Bainbridge, C. Dabrowski’s Overexcitabilities in Gifted Children https://www.verywellfamily.com/dabrowskis-overexcitabilities-in-gifted-children-1449118. Consulted: 14/8/23 Lind, S. Overexcitability and the Gifted https://www.sengifted.org/post/overexcitability-and-the-gifted. Consulted: 15/8/23 Sabater, V. The Brain of a Gifted Child https://exploringyourmind.com/the-brain-of-a-gifted-child/. Consulted: 17/8/23 Tetreault, N. The Gifted Brain Revealed Unraveling the Neuroscience of the Bright Experience https://ghfdialogue.org/the-gifted-brain-revealed-unraveling-the-neuroscience-of-the- bright-experience/. Consulted: 16/8/23 Tolan, S. Is It a Cheetah? https://www.stephanietolan.com/is_it_a_cheetah.htm. Consulted: 18/8/23
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