A Multipotentialite: Oysters, Shakespeare, and a Variety of Jobs by Stacie Brown McCullough

Falstaff: I will not lend thee a penny. Pistol: Why then the world’s mine oyster / Which I with sword will open. From "The Merry Wives of Windsor" by William Shakespeare In other words: “The world is your oyster.” William Shakespeare sure knew a thing or two about language. Actually, he knew a thing or two about a thing or two. He was a quintessential renaissance person—the original Jack-of-all-trades, perhaps the original multipotentialite. Or was that Leonardo da Vinci? IDK. I want to stop writing right now and research it, but alas, I won’t. I’m trying to stay focused, and that both saddens me a tiny bit and gouges my soul with an oyster knife. We’ll get to that. According to Bell English, the phrase was “initially related to wealth, but now means all life’s richness, with the pearl in the oyster signifying this.” I’m no expert, but “all life’s richness” seems like a lot of pressure to put on a person with way too many oysters to start with. And how do you open an oyster and get to all life’s richness? You pry it open with a knife. It’s sometimes tough and often tedious work. A tad stinky perhaps. A bit uncomfortable and awkward if you’re new at this and don’t quite know what you’re doing. You have to be careful not to slip up and injure yourself, but once you find your groove, you get it done. If you’re lucky, you end up with a nice pearl you can be proud of. Maybe a few pearls to leave to your children and grandchildren. If you’re incredibly fortunate, you can leave a legacy-sized string of pearls behind. That’s a lovely concept. Who doesn’t love a pearl necklace? Even I do, and I’m the opposite of the pearl-necklace-type (you know who you are). To people who have too many oysters, though, “the world is your oyster” can be debilitating. People like me already know the world is our oyster; we knew that when we were three. It’s the knife that’s the problem. Or maybe the grit. Or maybe the frustration with pollution of the oceans. But it’s never, ever the lack of oysters. My oysters have always come as ideas or jobs. For example, my own job history would read something like this:

Writer Content Creator Student Director of Operations Education Mentor and Facilitator CNC Plasma-cutter Operator Small Business Owner Gardener Office Manager Legal Assistant Administrative Assistant Writer Student Auction Clerk Childcare Worker Jewelry Store Sales Associate Veterinary Technician

Stocker Student Writer Laboratory Animal Technician (including biohazard) Pharmacy Technician Home Construction Office Coordinator Shoe Store Sales Associate Mail Clerk Student Septic Installer Runner Restaurant Hostess Farm Tour Guide Bagger Dishwasher Cashier

A couple of patterns jump out, but other than that, I’ve had quite varied experiences, for which I’m now thankful. I have so much to draw upon, but I didn’t know that at the time. Instead, I had let others—especially well-meaning others like family, teachers, and close friends—convince me that I was just not trying hard enough, not sticking with something long enough, not “applying myself.” All those people had good intentions, but they didn’t understand how a 2e mind works, how my mind works. I didn’t understand how my mind works, either, and by comparing myself to others’ measures of success, I was gouging my soul with an oyster knife instead of appreciating my own unique experiences, my own unique strengths, and my own unique ideas. What really worked for me was being around others like me, which led to faith in myself. It seems to me now that I was simply sampling life’s menu, and perhaps it took me a little longer than others, like specialists, but it was the right amount of time for me. Yes, it’s atypical, and that’s the point. It’s not wrong, only different, and I know that now. Though oyster-sheller never made my list of jobs, I will need the same hard work and determination to get to that pearl. If there ends up being no pearl after all my hard work, I’ll try another oyster. Heck, I may go ahead and try them all. I’ve got plenty, and I’m seeking “all life’s richness,” aren’t I?

Stacie Brown McCullough Stacie Brown McCullough is a GHF Writer and content creator for the GHF Learners’ Writing Team. She is a published author of multiple essays and articles, introverted gifted adult, secular homeschooling mom, a psychology student, and multipotentialite. Since beginning her writing career in 2001, Stacie’s publications have appeared in college textbooks and instructor manuals by Bedford’s/St. Martin’s and Cengage Learning, marketing campaigns, and blog articles. Her work has earned multiple awards and won several contests. She has a handful of works-in-progress, including two fiction novels. In addition to her writing pursuits, Stacie started MMc Metal Designs, LLC, with her husband in 2015. She lived an underwhelming life in rural America until 2018, when she learned her oldest child is twice-exceptional. Thus, she connected a lifetime’s worth of dots and launched her own journey of self-discovery, founding The Secular Gifted Network and establishing SECTX Homeschool. When not busy life-ing, Stacie can be found reading all the things, gardening, and guiding her own gifted/2e children toward their educational goals. She lives in small-town, Texas, with her husband, kiddos, three cats, and a Pookie dog. Find out more at www.staciebrownmccullough.com .

From The Editor: Multipotentiality: Yours and Your Children’s By Celi Trépanier, MEd In the last month, you were passionate about the piano, got hung up on watercolor paintings that you could sell, and were thrilled when a few of your poems were published for the first time in a sorta notable anthology. SQUIRREL!  This month, you are uncontrollably exploring Centrafrican cuisine and are contemplating opening a Centrafrican restaurant. You have also been belting out show tunes as a member in a theatrical choir after dropping piano. And you are happily working a paying gig to write promotional pieces for a local animal rescue organization—saving animals, you decide, is what you’ve always wanted to do.  SQUIRREL! Does this sound familiar? For you? Your child? Your spouse? Oh, the dynamics of the multifaceted life of a multipotentialite.  How can one cope? Can you help your high school daughter decide whether to major in political science or music theory? How do you stop blaming yourself for quitting your lucrative job as a marketing whiz to be the general manager of a fledgling art gallery?  “ A Multipotentialife: Oysters, Shakespeare, and a Variety of Jobs “ is GHF Journey’s featured article by GHF writer, dedicated volunteer, and dyed-in-the-wool multipotentialite, Stacie Brown McCullough. She gives us a crystal-clear example of life as a multipotentialite, and the everyday struggles, which that life can bring. As Stacie poignantly shares, “I didn’t understand how my mind works, either, and by comparing myself to others’ measures of success, I was gouging my soul with an oyster knife instead of appreciating my own unique experiences, my own unique strengths, my own unique ideas.” As we all travel together, but ten feet apart, the same unknown road with the COVID19 pandemic, you can look to GHF to provide resources and support if you’ve found yourself suddenly homeschooling. Join the GHF Discussion Group on Facebook , where you will find a vast, welcoming community ready to share tips and answer your questions. And all of us at GHF wish you and your family health, patience, and strength until we all come out on the other side of this.

We Hope You Enjoy The GHF Press Latest Release Gifted Myths: An Easy-to-Read Guide to Myths on the Gifted and Twice-Exceptional by Kathleen Humble

Is Giftedness a myth? What is a Gifted Child? Why is Giftedness such a hot-button issue? Where does the fear and dislike of ‘gifted’ come from? Come on an adventure about how Mrs Einstein, newspaper articles from the 1920s, and the San people of the Kalahari Desert can help us understand what gifted is – and is not. In an easy-to-read style, Gifted Myths explores these and other stories on the history, science, and lived experience of gifted and twice-exceptional families. Gifted Myths is a must-read for parents, educators, and professionals who work with gifted and twice-exceptional children.

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GHF Dialogue Article

Front-Runners By Joanne Foster, Ed.D "These are precedented times. As the coronavirus wreaks havoc across the globe, and things become increasingly difficult, we look to leaders for hope and inspiration. We don't know who they might be or from whence they might come. They are raised variously, and have wide-ranging experiential backgrounds, yet they develop a passion to be at the forefront of the fray. What drives them? In this piece, I share my thoughts..." Grappling with Questions about Advancement This article on front-runners is not about marathons. It is about children who CAN and DO succeed, and why and how that happens. Front-runners. Who are they, and what makes them front-runners? What are the issues? The misconceptions? How can parents support their kids? These are the four questions I address here. Of course, not every child is a front-runner, nor do they have to aspire to be one. However, for those who are or who strive to be—and for their parents and, too, the broader community who look to our young people to help safeguard and fortify the future—-here are some insights. Read on the GHF Dialogue

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SUMMER AND FALL 2020 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Online middle and high school courses with live weekly webinars for curious learners. Gradeless classrooms foster critical thinking and social connections. Friends of GHF save 10% with coupon code GHFREADER.

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GHF Dialogue Article

Lonesome Town: How This Gifted Girl Unapologetically Navigates Friendship By Veneranda Aguirre

" For gifted people, alone is part of the gig. That's just math. There are fewer of us out there. But alone and lonely are two separate words for a reason. I can be lonely in a crowded room. And I can be quite happy and alone with myself for extended periods of time. What I had to learn is that popularity is for prom queens and yearbook autographs. Popularity might get you invited out on a Wednesday, but it won’t tuck you in at night or light a fire in your brain. " "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'"  --C.S. Lewis “It's Dr. Evil. I didn't spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called 'mister,' thank you very much.” --Dr. Evil, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) If I know one thing, it’s that a good friend is worth her weight in La Mer Moisturizing Creme ($180/oz). For the lucky unremarkables out there, making friends is easy. You find someone your age who lives in your cul de sac and also has a bike, or someone who also watches the same reality TV/sports games as you do, or has children at the same school as your child. You go everywhere together: the club, the woods, Costco, brunch, yoga, Vegas. You’re in each other’s weddings and at each other’s Super Bowl parties. You share Instapot recipes and like each other’s Instagram stories of puppies, inspirational quotes, and insipid memes. For me, well, I’d rather take my chances in a Siberian Gulag with the likes of murderers and thieves.  This world isn’t suited to prodigies. Apart from the few stories that play on the news of a twelve-year-old getting into Harvard or a five-year-old’s piano concerto, no one really likes a genius. When we grow up and stop being cute and precocious, we are merely know-it-all’s who correct your pronunciation and miss your social cues when we’re midway into a lecture on the factual errors in time travel films. We’re annoying. And we remind people of their limitations. That’s why evil geniuses are the bad guys in Bond films. And yet, no man can be an island unto himself. We all need friends.  Read More on GHF Dialogue

4 Days of SENG

SENG is pleased to announce the launch of its first 'live' online conference event taking place April 29 - May 2 featuring daily keynotes followed by five concurrent and informative sessions presented by experts in gifted education and psychology. Headliners include Dr. Jim Delisle, Dr. Sally Reis, Dr. Dina Brulles, Dr. Jack Naglieri Dr. Matt Zakreski Each session will be recorded for those who cannot attend. Please visit the SENG website for more information

4 Days of ENG

GHF Membership GHF connects all sorts of people who love gifted learners. We offer both family and professional memberships to support and encourage adults working to create new ways of educating gifted learners. Our members homeschool gifted and twice-exceptional kids, run homeschool co-ops and microschools, write to foster understanding of gifted and twice-exceptional learners, mentor students one-on-one, teach online classes, provide services specifically designed to meet the social and emotional needs of gifted and twice-exceptional learners, and more. We’d love for you to join us. Click here to join now.

GHF Dialogue GHF Dialogue publishes essays and articles based on quarterly themes. If you’d like to contribute, please read the submission guidelines, where you’ll also find the quarterly themes and deadlines. We’ve intentionally come up with themes that are fairly broad and nonspecific to create space for a variety of ideas and writing styles. We welcome deeply personal essays, research-based articles, and everything in-between. Click here to learn more,

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Coffee Chats Pour yourself a cup of something and take a minute to come meet your GHF Family Committee Chair. Kasi Peters and Pin-pin Wei will host virtual coffee breaks for you to get to know us, as well as other GHF members. This is a chance to voice to what you would like to see or what you have found most helpful about GHF.  The virtual coffee breaks will be held on Zoom, so get the app. Don't worry if you can't make the first one.  Virtual coffee breaks will occur every 2-3 weeks. Click here to join now.

GHF Press GHF Press brings you a diversity of highly rated books from some of the most knowledgeable authors and experts on giftedness. We have published books on raising a 2e child, books which provide insight into the world of gifted adults, a how-to on homeschooling your gifted child from a former public school teacher, current insider information on college admissions, and books for support with bullying and the gifted. GHF Press puts the most vibrant information you need about gifted learners and giftedness right in your hands. Click here to learn more.

THE GHF PRESIDENT'S CLUB For those of you who can give at least $500 we have created a special recognition program where you will be listed on the GHF website and in our monthly newsletter, The GHF Journey, as valued members of the community. Donations may be kept anonymous. Platinum – $2,500 Barry Gelston, Mr. Gelston’s One Room Schoolhouse Gold – $1,500 Silver – $500 Rosemary Guillette Dr. Melanie Hayes, Big Minds Unschool Heidi Molbak, Seed Starter Educational Consulting Dan Peters, Summit Center Magalie Pinney, State Street’s Do More Grant Jade Ann Rivera, Sunnyside Micro-School

ABOUT GHF GHF connects all sorts of people who love gifted learners. We offer both family and professional memberships to support and encourage adults working to create new ways of educating gifted learners. Our members homeschool gifted and twice-exceptional kids, run homeschool co-ops and microschools, write to foster understanding of gifted and twice-exceptional learners, mentor students one-on-one, teach online classes, provide services specifically designed to meet the social and emotional needs of gifted and twice-exceptional learners, and more. We'd love for you to join us. GHF is a 501c3 organization . Please consider supporting our community with your most generous gift today. For more information on our organization, please feel free to contact us at info@ghflearners.org. Thank you!

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