Q/A with Brielle

Tell us a bit about yourself…

My name is Brielle. I skipped a grade when I was in first grade, I like tennis, soccer, traveling, drawing, reading, and poetry. I also participate in girl scouts and mock trial at school. I have two pets: A dog named “Sugar” and my cat “Ollie.” I love hanging out with friends and family.

How did you decide to skip a grade?

My parents and I decided together that it was the best decision. I was already doing subject acceleration, and I was just more comfortable with the next grade. They consulted a psychologist who also agreed the grade skip was right for me. A gifted educator told my mother “watch your daughter’s light and joy,” and she did. We made the grade skip when I started not enjoying school as much.

Was the grade skip enough? What other types of acceleration have you tried?

The grade skip was a help for sure. We combined it with additional subject acceleration, combo classes, and extracurriculars. For me, I only wanted to skip one grade, but I know there are others who skip more than one. I have attended public school as well as a home hybrid school. In the hybrid home school, I was home two days a week, and I was at school three days a week. Right now, I am back at a public school.

Do you know other students who have skipped a grade?

Most kids I know who skipped a grade are also Davidson Young Scholars. I do have a cousin that skipped a grade. However, there were not any other kids in my school who had done so. I think a lot of students can feel like they are alone in this, or it is super rare. I created my website because I want other kids to know that they are not alone. There are more than you think who take this path.

What are the best parts of skipping a grade in your opinion?

I loved being able to learn more in class, and how welcoming my new grade was. This may not always be the case, but other students in my new class even made a poster to welcome me. My second grade teacher was phenomenal and so nice all the time. I was more challenged and felt more comfortable. I made friends in the new grade, but I also kept some friends in my old class. This actually helped me expand my friendship circle and meet new people.

Has there been any difficult moments?

In second grade, after the grade skip, a girl my age came up to me with her friends. I was surprised because I hardly knew her and even more confused when I heard what she had to say. She told me that her mother (a teacher) did not approve of me skipping a grade. I remember asking myself why it was her or her mom’s business what grade I was in, but I didn’t say anything. Later when I came home, I asked my parents about this. They explained to me that grade acceleration was a very controversial topic for some. While this particular situation was unusual for me, I do get comments about looking younger or questions about how or why I skipped a grade. This happens most when going into a new situation or when people do not know me as well. For those of you receiving comments like this, I think it is normal. Just because others may not understand your journey, doesn’t mean there is something wrong with it. And just because someone is curious does not mean they think it is wrong or a problem. Lots of students get comments for lots of different reasons. Overall, other kids have been encouraging and kind.

What advice do you have for those who skip a grade?

Make sure to always keep in touch with old friends, but also look for ways to make new ones. Don’t lose touch with old friends when making new ones. Keep trying, and remember that it will pay off in the long run. I think it is important for kids to be involved in the choice to skip a grade as well as to keep advocating for what feels right to them and what they need help with throughout the process.. Building a good support network is important, and I hope my website gives you ideas as well.

What made your grade skip most successful?

Making my grade skip successful was a combination of things such as welcoming teachers, supportive parents, compassionate peers, and much more. For me, it was mainly how much my parents helped me along the way, so I felt comfortable and ready. They did a lot of research and consulted a psychologist in making the decision. They made sure it was something that I wanted to do. We started with subject acceleration and then increased the amount of time in the new grade until I was fully transitioned in. My second grade teacher made a big banner welcoming me into my new class. The principal wanted to make sure our family was supported. My parents took in research to try to help the school understand and explained why I was not doing well where I was. I do think it is very helpful to gain support from others as much as possible. This does often mean sharing research as well as sharing your feelings as a student.

What do you hope to accomplish with your website?

I hope my website will provide additional resources and support for students who have skipped a grade, have questions, or would like to learn more from others about how to have a successful experience. I want all students who skip a grade to know they are not alone. There are a lot of us who have done this and have been where you are right now! I hope my website give you another place to go when you have skipped a grade.