For her life, will she go for her passion, or go for what she's good at? I was only good at one thing, so I went with that. Same with DH. Same with DS. We've never met somebody that was so good in something they don't like. What happens to kids like this? My parenting style says nurture the writing, put limits on the social, and let her take "math in our world" type of courses in high school. My desire for an easy life for her says encourage her to use her brain and do math, even if it's not going to be her career because there aren't that many people with minds like hers.
But is that the life you really
want for her?
I mean, on a philosophical level, wouldn't it be better from a whole-life perspective for her to FIND a real passion?
Not just something that she happens to have a freakishly good ability in, but could mostly care less about?
Or-- is it time to dig in and FIND the passion within the area that she's so freakishly good at-- probably by exploring different facets of it?
I seriously don't know the answer for PG girls with multipotentiality on the table.
We're facing this too, as you probably know.
Our DD even recognizes that it's a PROBLEM. Colleges want "passion" for something. She does not have that, in spite of her "well-rounded" appearance and avid interest in a variety of things. She takes tremendous enjoyment in a great many things, but is still in the hunt for a "passion."
I think that in part, this is
because these are kids that have great cognitive capacity and emotional maturity at a younger-than-typical age; they recognize authenticity (or a lack thereof) in spite of a lack of life experience. They can separate a "crush" on a new thing from "love" for a subject or discipline. They're CHOOSY.
They aren't really dilettantes, they are just still looking for the one true love.
I agree with kcab-- the name of the game here is to keep doors open.
My DD is very very good at a lot of things that she places no personal value upon at all. We aren't sure WHAT to do with her. She has a passion for pleasing other people, mostly. She loves doing community service and teaching. Other than that... well, she's pretty smitten with collaboration in STEM. We're hopeful on that front.
Probably not terribly helpful, sorry.
