Arvind first displayed a knack for spelling when he won the class spelling bee in second grade. He was placed 9th in the Spelling Bee contest in 2010 when he was just 10 years old. He became the winner in 2013 with consistent effort spanning four years.
This is a classic example of Talent Identification and Talent Development wherein domain specific abilities matter and these talents have varying developmental trajectories. Opportunities need to be provided and matched by the efforts of the talented students as well. The model of Subotnik et al outlays the talent development process by emphasizing the several transitions whereby abilities are developed into competencies and competencies into expertise and expertise into eminence.
