What Effect Do Gifted Programs Have on Kids?

When I started 1st grade, I was put into a gifted program at my local public school. We were the kids that supposedly had "high IQ's" and the ones who pretty much were believed to be geniuses since we were little kids. During my elementary school, we were taught in different techniques and we were raised thinking we were smarter than those who weren't in the gifted program. Fast-forward 11 years and now it's a completely different situation.

My work ethic has been completely destroyed. And by that, I mean that I have a very low work ethic for the things I don't like. Thanks to the fact that I am apparently "gifted in math," I sit in a standard level math class from which I barely scraped by last year. It's not that the concepts were particularly difficult, it's that I did not do my homework or study for any tests. In fact, I haven't studied more than one hour for any test in my life.

My work ethic was tested several times this year since at one point I had a D in my English class. 100 percent honesty, it just kind of stressed me out and I really didn't do anything about it. By the end of the quarter, my grade had miraculously gone up to a C, and I was kind of okay with it. I'm not exactly sure why, but I have something psychologically that just makes me think that I'll end up clutching a decent grade. And I did. By the end of the year, I had nailed my final without studying and I ended up with a B in the class after not talking to my teacher at all or seeking any additional help. That's why I have this issue.

My low work ethic is probably due to the fact that the gifted program messed me up and the fact that miraculously, I never fail. I'm not writing this to show off or to have you envy me but that is going to become a big issue later on. I'm not sure if my brain kicks in overdrive or what it is but somehow it always works out, until it doesn't. And on that fateful day, I might actually get my life together and start trying. Yes I understand that waiting for my life to fall apart is kind of bleak and self-deprecating, but honestly, that is where I am right now.

But I want to fail because I know that is going to be a valuable lesson for me and then I might not leave everything to happen at the last minute. Stress doesn't really affect me in school. It just kind of affects me mentally. I'll get angry and anxious and I'll take it out on other people. Which sounds bad, but is it really better than getting no sleep for a week because I'm up studying or stressing? I'm not really sure.

And maybe reading this you might think, "This guy is a weirdo. He definitely stays home all weekend and watches TV or plays video games." Wrong. I like to go out, party, hang out with friends, pretty much normal teenage things. And that's part of the problem; I will always pick a party over studying. This is probably because I was kind of lame in elementary and high school and I didn't really have friends or go to parties or anything up until sophomore year of high school. This is because in the gifted program, you really wouldn't talk to anyone outside of the gifted program. And these were kids you knew your entire life. So when I switched schools in 6th grade, it was rough. To add to that, I didn't have my first kiss until sophomore year of high school.

In conclusion, I guess it's not all bad because I'm kind of smart and I guess I'm motivated for the things I like. But still, the gifted program definitely messed me up. They should find a way to integrate everyone (the gifted and non-gifted kids) and have them do things together. I'm definitely not going to sign my kids up for that program unless they change it up a little bit.