The Courage Gifted Children Truly Need: Lessons from Steve Jobs

 At my former workplace, it was customary for the teacher in charge to send a message to new students and their parents. As I was in charge of the "Gifted" class at the time, I showed a famous video of Steve Jobs' commencement speech at Stanford University and addressed them, saying:

"You can tackle anything you truly desire."

By showcasing examples of activities done by previous students, I conveyed that they were capable of doing anything that came to their minds, and that this class was committed to fully supporting those endeavors.

The words from Jobs' speech that were deeply ingrained in my heart and what I wanted to convey to the children are:

"And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become."

While this is a universal message for all young people, it holds an exceptionally critical meaning, especially for gifted children. This is because, while they possess hearts and intuitions that are far sharper than others, the very nature of their talent demands of them a "greater courage" than their peers.

🤔 Why is Greater Courage Necessary?

When you attempt to follow your heart and intuition, it is often met with opposition from the adults and classmates around you. You might hear things like:

• "Stop doing that."

• "No one else is doing that."

• "How are you going to make a living with that?"

• "Society isn't that easy," and so on.

If you choose not to walk the same path as those around you, you will be going against the overwhelming majority opinion. This is because people around you won't necessarily cheer you on and send you off with applause. That is why it takes courage to follow your own heart.

The reasons for what you truly want to do or become may be incomprehensible to those around you. These reasons are things that you "somehow understand" and that your "heart and intuition already know." Even if you cannot articulate it in words, it is an unshakeable truth for you.

🌸 To Resist Conformity and Let Talent Blossom

Regrettably, in modern Japanese society, there are few opportunities to teach the "courage to withstand being in the minority." We tend to emphasize learning how to conform to the majority rather than the strength to endure isolation.

• "Get along with everyone."

• "Act as a group."

• "Join the circle of the majority as much as possible."

With teachings like these, I wonder if children are suffering by compromising their own hearts, even as they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their "friends" and high-five them. I know that a great number of children spend their time forcing themselves into interactions they don't truly desire, telling themselves that it is an important thing to do.

However, if they spend their time constantly reading the expressions of those around them and living in fear within the crowd, their precious talents will never blossom. Innovation does not arise from homogenous groups. For gifted children to maximize their talents, it is necessary to teach the "courage not to fear isolation" and to build a society that supports it.

GIERI will continue to support the future of children in Japan alongside you, so that they can follow their own "heart and intuition" and fully unleash their talents.