Parents of Gifted Students and the Students themselves are often searching for a path to their future. When you are smart in school, quite often your teachers and guidance counselors move you in what they see as a logical direction. This writer recently attended a high school reunion, and in late evening discussions many felt the same thing, not because we were gifted but perhaps above average. When we were youngsters, the space program in the US was just getting off the ground. The key to our future seemed to be engineering. Many of us today think back and are able to say that we would have been mediocre or poor engineers because that was not our strength or passion. The following video hits the nail on the head. If asked, many young people inherently know the direction that will satisfy their strengths and passions. I strongly urge you to view the video about Spark……..
Sandra Cook Heisser wrote on 07/18/12 4:13 AM
The past two weeks I have been working for a graphic art studio to help out a friend and I have found myself energized by conversations with a sixteen year old boy who is also helping out. It is this very concept of the "human spark" which delights both he and I as we talk about numbers, music, real life basic needs and the wonder which comes from making connections to thoughts and experience presented to us by the world. Until I listened to Peter Benson I couldn't put a name to what it is that draws me to teaching young people. I know it is not money, fame or ego. It is this very metaphor of a child as a flame that I must feed with air, so their spark doesn't die that gives me purpose to continue on in naming and reiterating the richness and fullness they emit. This young bright boy beams with delight when anyone champions his spark. When you look back on life it is the people who championed you that pop out at different junctions of your own biography. Thank you so much for this video that prompted my first comment to our group. Many students have come in and out of my life and I am in touch with some of them. There should be more. Thank you Mr. O'Reilly.