What motivates gifted students to learn?

One of the last projects we carried out in Maringá was a Genius workshop, and closing the cycle there with a session of our beloved volunteer project was both meaningful and rewarding.

In a resource classroom, we welcomed 13 gifted students to share their thoughts and feelings about education.

Among the challenges we proposed for each construction, one stood out through the question, “What motivates you to keep learning?” Some answers spoke about the desire for a better life, while others revealed the challenges faced by gifted individuals in school environments.

Statements such as “internal pressure to perform,” “what motivates me: madness. When I arrive, they look at me as if I were abnormal,” and “apparently, I am a monster” show how difficult it can be to be a gifted student at school—and how that experience can serve either as fuel for learning or as a source of discouragement, masking of abilities, bullying, depression, and even school dropout.

Unfortunately, the school environment is still not prepared to truly support gifted students and embrace their singularities. Even when these students feel seen and encouraged in resource rooms, there is still a significant gap in regular classrooms, where they spend most of their time. This stems from the lack of preparation among school staff and from the myths and stereotypes deeply rooted in those who work with these young people daily.

In our Genius workshops, we strive to create a safe space where students can share their thoughts and emotions authentically, and where they feel heard and supported. Each session reminds us of the urgent need for change within educational institutions. We believe that true listening is an act accessible to everyone in the school community and has the power to transform education into a more human and inclusive space.

Photo: Isa Stresser