Published On: June 12th, 2017|

The Toronto Star – Richard Hoshino

This is what Gifted would have you believe, the Hollywood movie that perpetuates the stereotype that only certain people can excel in mathematics. The storyline implies that giftedness is a result of nature rather than nurture, of winning a genetic lottery rather than devoting thousands of hours to deliberate practice. But Hollywood got it wrong. As the former coach of Canada’s team to the International Math Olympiad, I’ve worked with exceptional students who can solve the same problems tackled by the fictional Mary Adler. Not a single one of these math olympians, myself included, was a child prodigy. Instead of inheriting a gift, we developed our grit.(more)