Resilience And Giftedness

This book bases on mostly my master and doctorate thesis. Thesis include not only research findings, but also the researcher’s effort and motivation. The supervisors are the motivation source of researchers in that times. Therefore, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisors Prof. Dr. Oya Yerin Güneri and Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Ataman. My master thesis is about resilience among Regional Boarding Elementary School students. Students in boarding schools are away from their families. Thus, they experience some problems of adjustment, such as homesickness. Although many people come across some problems and difficulties in their lives, resilient people are able to find solutions to problems and cope with difficulties. Certainly, the characteristics of resilient people play an important role in this process. Intelligence, self-esteem and hope are some internal factors that nurture resilience. The famous philosopher Nietzsche's quote "What does not kill us strengthens us" can sum up this situation. My doctorate thesis focuses on gifted students. Giftedness is an important research area for educators. Gifted students, who need special education, have unique development process. Also, they have potentials to be resilient since they have above average intelligence. But both resilience and giftedness are qualifications that need to be improved. Studying on these two important subjects helped me to see the potentials in people, including myself. I wish this book will be helpful for the readers to discover the potentials in themselves, children and others.