mizzoumommy - wow. That is a jaw-dropping story. How can a school that had earlier offered multiple grade skips, and that knew you had already completed the curriculum put you in a special-ed class (which by the way amounted to child abuse for all the kids in it)? yikes. You have overcome so much.
CAMom - I'm with you. In retrospect, I wish I had been accelerated. I didn't even know that was an option at the time, though. Luckily, i had some last minute acceleration (took all my senior year classes at the local university). But by then it was too late, underachievement was fully formed.
As a matter of fact, I have been considering writing a book about my experiences growing up and, now, as a home schooling parent to precocious children.
Regarding under-achievment, I am right there with you! Although, I took matters into my own hands and pushed things through for the sake of self-preservation, I still have habits of procrastination, hiding my abilities (even with real-life friends that would, probably, be accepting given the chance, etc. Admittedly, I wonder if my current brand of under-achieving comes from generally feeling like I am carrying others. When I organized a group for new parents, I was the one who came up with and followed through with ideas for events, etc. 90% of the time, for example. I don't know if this was because, people truly didn't know how or because they'd rather have someone else do all the leg work. Perhaps, it was a combination. Regardless, it left me feeling a bit bereft and a little used. Still, not sure if this is a gifted thing or not, but it does seem a bit cyclical. I am trying to break the habit of being the driving force things all of the time, but then I feel like I am being a slacker - which I am, as I could easily do it, but I am learning that sometimes it's okay to let go and slack off a little.
Does anyone else out there relate?
