Interesting article, Bostonian. Thanks for sharing.
A few things stood out to me as I read the second article:
- His high school has graduated students with associate degrees, therefore seems supportive of achievement among gifted pupils (does not appear to be forcing "equal outcomes")
- Braxton will be 17 years, 3 months at graduation
- He is now 6'2" so blends in with college-age students
- He attended
Harvard Extension (online with summer in-person classes)
- He did not qualify for federal aid for his college tuition because he did not have a high school diploma
- In his first attempt, did not qualify for Harvard Law School but plans to try again
One thing stood out to me as I read the first article:
He was asking questions like, "Why do I exist?" and "What's my purpose?"- James Webb, PhD,
founder of SENG and
Great Potential Press called this existential angst or existential depression.
- Some resources:
1) SENG article,
Existential Depression in Gifted Individuals (Sept 13, 2011)
2) SENG,
100 Words of Wisdom (Sept 11, 2013)
3) Book,
Searching for Meaning: Idealism, Bright Minds, Disillusion, and Hope