I just found this subreddit.

I was like everyone else here that was "gifted" but then struggled and basically gave up/felt worthless and so on.

I'm now on my 3rd year of teaching 3rd grade. Last year I had a student who is a genius. No doubt about it. Read 100 words more in a minute than any other kid in our grade, was top 10 percent in the state in reading and math, etc.

I know we aren't supposed to have favorites, but this girl has a heart of gold and just wants to learn.

Well...we started a new concept in math halfway through the year and she didn't get it. I believe it was the first concept she never understood right away and it destroyed her. I'm talking full breakdown crying, embarrassed she didn't get it, and saying that she's letting others down.

I reached out to mom and had mom send me a message to give to her about how she's never going to be a failure or let her mom down. That her mom would always be proud of her.

I called the student over and had her sit down with me. I started telling her how thankful I had her in my class. I never talked about her academics, but just things she did and how she treated others.

I pointed that out afterwards and said "I think you are also a genius, but that doesn't define who you are." We started talking about why she was feeling like she was going to let everyone down. She didn't know why, but I promised her that her friends would still love her, I'll still be proud of her, and her mom would always love her. I pulled up the message and let her read it. She smiled and teared up a little.

She's doing better. She's now in 4th grade and hasn't broke down crying once. I still chat with her mom and check in every once in a while.

And now there might be an opening in 5th grade next year. If I could get her as my student again, I might make that switch.