A Second look at the Gifted Gone Astray

Here is a continuation of the gifted gone astray. First read the examples and digest the conclusions. It is important that hope in gifted teens who have gone astray is not abandoned, because this will only worsen the situation. Read about Reteh, Kristy, and don't forget Adam and Aaron of last week. These are real life stories, however, they in no way sum up the extent of this very serious problem.

Reteh is brilliant, or so say all of her acquaintances. She is at the top of her class with yearly averages in the high nineties. Reteh is considerate and polite at school. She always sits in the front row and listens intently to what the teacher has to say. She is always on time and very organized. Reteh is ready for any pop quiz. She is very involved in extracurricular activities, volunteers at various events and organizations and is a leader in other parts of her daily life. Reteh is athletic and reads the daily paper faithfully. She is very neat and caring. The surprise is that Reteh has a non-existent social life. Reteh has no close friends, even though she is well liked at school. Reteh never chats on ICQ, talks on the phone, or goes out at night. She stays at home and reads contentedly. She cannot look a person in the eye when talking to them. Reteh feels so uncomfortable around her peers and so different that she has made her own little igloo in the vast earth and has iced over the door.

Kristy is another gifted girl who has spent many a day of her elementary years at enrichment. She is from the country and is lively and happy. Kristy is amiable and interested in learning. She has no siblings and only a single parent. Kristy finally reaches high school and goes away to a Catholic one, far from her friends. Kristy moves to the city to attend it. She acquires new and rather unbecoming friends who accept her into their clique. She takes on a new religion called Wicca and dresses avidly in black. Kristy tries drugs and takes on smoking. She becomes a party animal and her marks plummet from the highest skies. Kristy is almost evicted from her school. Kristy has gotten into the wrong group and has become a gifted teen gone astray.

These are only examples of the gifted teens who have gone astray. Each one has been influenced by some outside source for the worse. This has occurred due to the fact that teens are easily influenced as they try to find meaning and purpose in life. These teens all

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