by Christina U.

Created on: April 21, 2008

Growing up in this world, fitting in seems to be everything. Society dictates our behavior and shapes our identity. Unfortunately those who do not reach these arbitrary, unrealistic standards become outcasts and are forced to live alone, plagued by their unique personality and intellect. Children today are viscous creatures who prey on anyone who is different.

A child who is forced to leave the only friends he/she has, to start a more intellectually challenging program, may succeed academically, but may fail socially. This child may lose their only sense of fitting in and begin to suffer from depression. At such an early age, the child probably will not realize the success they can achieve by finishing school early. In some cases, children in this situation will intentionally do badly in hopes that their parents will place them back in a classroom with their friends.

Society teaches children what's cool, and unfortunately being the class brain was never at the cool end of the spectrum. This child may even be rejected by his/her former classmates as well as his/her new classmates. This child is not normal. He/she is gifted. This child may not be fully equipped to handle the emotional situations connected with this decision, and may not be as emotionally mature as his/her new classmates.

Some children may also end up suffering from a superiority complex, convinced that they deserve special treatment for their academic achievements. This child may also believe he/she is better than everyone in the class, and again, distance themself from their peers.

One final concern would be that this child's new teacher may not be able to challenge him/her intellectually. Not every instructor is experienced in attending to gifted children. The child may be able to complete work more on his/her level, but may not be working up to his/her maximum potential.

Although children may not be capable of making major life decisions, it's always a good idea to discuss this decision with them. I believe informing them of all possible consequences, as well as triumphs, can help both the parents and the child decide what's best.

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