Labels and stereotypes cause prejudice about everyone – even the “smart kids.” Bella Boaz, a 14-year-old freshman of Heritage High School, has been in the gifted program for the majority of her education so far. This label has completely altered her self-perception.
Boaz said, “There’s so much more to being a human than being a gifted kid and just being smart. I think that label has been, like, so damaging to me, especially because now I don’t raise my hand in class, I don’t speak out. I dumb myself down because I feel like it makes myself more likeable.”
Being nervous about participating in class isn’t the only struggle Boaz attributes to being gifted. Because of the stereotype, she has set very high expectations for herself in the classroom, and the opinions of others amplify that stress as well.
“I think that there is a lot of pressure to succeed if you feel like you’ve been told you’re smart your whole life. There’s a lot of pressure to keep that up. Like to be the best, you have to do the best.”
Unlike some students, Boaz doesn’t base her self-worth on others’ struggles or failures. She believes others can succeed without her feeling envious or jealous.
Boaz always wants to succeed. For her, failure isn’t about making mistakes- it’s about the consequences.
“Rather than fearing the idea of failure, it’s because I fear failure as in a bad grade. But, I don’t think I’m afraid to not understand. I’d rather learn in the form of classwork and stuff like that, but that was a mentality that I had to learn.”
Boaz’s fear of failure motivates her to always strive for success, and it’s very noticeable. While in middle school, she became close with her sixth-grade ELA teacher, Mrs. Courtney Boyd.
When asked about Boaz’s determination, she said. “Bella’s determination is evident in how she strives for excellence in everything she does. Bella tackles challenges, and if she struggles, she shows her resilience and determination by continuing on until she succeeds.”
Boaz is a very successful student. However, she has very complex interests outside of school. She enjoys concerts, spending time with friends and family, and playing tennis. Also, Boaz has ambitions to travel the world.
“When I started to travel, I knew I wanted to experience it all. I want to travel the world– Europe specifically, and I want to visit, like every culture of the world.”
Bella’s title of a “gifted student” is a testament to her motivation. The constant demand to be perfect in the classroom has occasionally consumed her. Though the label of “gifted” has brought pressure and doubt, it has also fueled Boaz’s work ethic. She is learning that her worth isn’t defined by a title, but by her resilience and passion for growth.
