Professional athletes and entertainers are often identified as the source of emulation for young males, especially Black males. With far less romanticized career representations than those in the athletic arena, many Black families foster, knowingly and unknowingly, a polarized path to elusive goals of a professional athletic career. Explicitly…

What is Black student's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) identity? The author addresses this question through a synthesis of the literature that includes studies that explore Black student identity. Background information regarding STEM achievement and persistence followed by empirical studies that explore STEM attitudes…

Gifted adolescent rural girls live in a world where popular culture is a key source of information about their present and future lives. This study asked whether, as a key influence, popular culture supported or disrupted the talent development process of gifted adolescent girls in rural settings. Through an embedded case study approach this…

Through a qualitative research design, I explored how eight talented masters in fine arts (MFA) writers related to their craft. The phenomenon "relationship with writing" includes writers' goals, values, identity, and emotions as these relate to writing. I found that that these MFA writers experience compatibilities and conflicts…

This interview with Annemarie Roeper, the co-founder of the Roeper School and the "Roeper Review," highlights her views on gifted education, the influences on her thinking, her educational background, her beliefs on the development of the self, the creation of the Roeper School, and the development of the Roeper Review. (Contains 4…

Middle schools are uniquely able to help early adolescents develop healthy, positive identities. Youngsters should expect to achieve school success and recognition. To develop and recognize individual expertise, schools must expand areas expertise is recognized, valued, and developed; become aware of students' interests and goals; create a…

This case study examined relationships between Chris, a 12-year-old talented male, and 5 peers. Chris's peers had favorable influences on his academic and creative talent development in four areas: competition, support, motivation, and role modeling. He identified strongly with one of his peers in becoming a rock star. (Contains references.)…