Posted by FLS on 2:49 Sep 12
In Reply to: I need advice about Johns Hopkins talent search. Please help! ...More posted by Anita in PA
and went to the CTY summer camp program where I met many others, but none of the ones I stayed in touch with won scholarships based on the talent search. All of us did get scholarships, many of them quite substantial, but they were all based on our high school achievements.
I have occasionally considered having my kidlets take the tests, but since I would never consider sending my kids to the summer camp, nor using the online classes, there really don't seem to be any benefits for our family.
I should also say that for many talent search participants, the recognition was very validating. Most gifted kids experience some very negative reactions from other kids, and, in so many social circles, academic achievements are not as valued as, for example, sports achievements. It can be a wonderful experience to have the things that you are good at honored.
One of my best friends from the camp was a brilliant young man who was on the verge of giving up academically. He was in public school, was regularly ridiculed for his brilliance, and was at the end of his rope. The recognition he received boosted his self image and the time at the camp where academic achievement was *normal*, where interest in school subjects was *cool* changed his life profoundly. We are still in touch, he is a doctor of internal medicine and the father of two amazing little girls...
So, please, these searches aren;t supposed to be about the *parents*; it isn't to celebrate us.. although there are certainlly parents who try to make it be about themselves! And, although we've chosen not to do it for our family, I don't think the honor of a photo in the paper is bad!
FLS