This is part two of my interview with Jake Williams. If you missed part one, click here.
LISA: What was your favorite subject in elementary school?
JAKE: Mathematics was always my best and favorite subject. There really wasn't a second best. Reading and English were by far my weakness, which is the main reason I eventually pursued my journalism degree in college.
LISA: How did your parents challenge you as a child?
JAKE: I'm guessing their efforts were too sly for me to remember. Either that or they let my brother handle this one.
My memorable childhood challenges were based on chasing my oldest brother Shane. He was smarter, faster and better at most areas that I wanted to excel. We spent innumerable summer days playing basketball in our front yard. We'd talk about whatever in the world we wanted to, and he always had an answer or opinion that helped shape my thoughts.
LISA: How did your parents foster your creativity and keep you from being bored?
JAKE: This was not a problem, if I remember correctly. I was often bored at school, but rarely at home. Mostly I just spent time with my brothers and two or three best friends. It was great having other males around at my age and above.
LISA: How did your teachers challenge you?
JAKE: To a large degree, my teachers didn't challenge me. There just wasn't enough time for the attention 'challenging me' would have required. Instead, they gave me high marks and asked me to help the other kids catch up.
LISA: Tell me about your college education? What did you study?
JAKE: For three years, I studied physics at Utah State University. I was Vice President of the group that restarted USU's chapter of the Society of Physics Students. (Click here to read Jake's article, "Inside the Mind of a Physics Student," on pages 11 and 12.)
At some point in my third year, I realized I would be unhappy with the social drawbacks of being a physicist and changed my major to address my weakness with words. Journalism allowed me to write about math in the form of sports and statistics, so the transition wasn't as abrupt as most people imagine.
LISA: What are your educational/professional plans for the future?
JAKE: Recently, I took the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and scored well, but I also just started a new career as a doctor staffing consultant. I'm undecided concerning applying to medical school.
LISA: Tell me about your new career.
JAKE: Last fall, I started working for CompHealth, a Locum Tenens staffing company. We provide non-permanent coverage to short-staffed hospitals around the country. My job entails calling doctors to see if their schedules allow for extra work.
Jake Williams offers insightful advice to parents raising gifted children. Stay tuned for the conclusion of our interview.
Read other interesting articles from this examiner:
Perfectionism and the gifted child
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