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Jon was a scholar/athlete. A talented football player with a critical mind, he embraced his dual identity as a scholarly athlete and an athletic scholar-even when others pushed him to choose one or the other. He worked smart and hard, thought critically on and off the field, and set high goals for himself. He dreamed of attending an Ivy League college, one that held top tier status in both STEM research and athletics. He also distinguished himself over other student-athletes who felt compelled to prioritize their academic ability over athletic identity or vice versa.
Fostering the Multi-Potential Child
Jon displayed what many gifted children do: multi-potentiality.1 The multi-potential child excels in two or more different fields, be it football and math, painting and English, or chess and chemistry. These multiple interests, if not fostered appropriately, could disadvantage the gifted student, who may find it hard to choose or focus his many passions and talents.
Parents, positioned as a child's first teacher, inaugurate the nurturing process of the gifted student's multiple interests, talents, and potential.2 With careful planning and support systems, parents can promote their gifted child's dual identity, while also fostering academic excellence, talent development, and maximizing potential.
In Counseling Gifted...