She’d spend hours talking, cooking, and listening to gospel music — This story is part of Know Their Names, a collection of articles illuminating and celebrating the lives of Black Trans women. When Adrianne Brown remembers her friend Jazzaline Ware, she can’t help but recall their phone calls. On Sundays, they had a particular routine. Jazzy, as she was affectionately known…

Michelle Obama’s parents followed this formula. Here’s why you should too. — Before Michelle Obama reached kindergarten, she could read. At age 7, she skipped second grade. She would also eventually graduate from Princeton and Harvard Law. Although she married a man who’d make her the First Lady of the United States, she was already exceptional — in intelligence, drive, and purpose. …

My Investigation Into How People Get Smart I’m fascinated by smart people, but I am even more fascinated by their parents. What’s my definition of smart? Einstein said everyone is a little Genius. However, he added: “If you try to force a fish to learn to climb a tree, that…

Editor’s Note: Carmen is going to Yale, but before she leaves I asked her to provide tips on how she organized herself as a student and to provide some study secrets! I found these wise tips helpful for my own life experience. Don’t miss her story this week on “The…

Inside the Mind of a Former Gifted Child “You’re a smart kid and you’re going to go to a school for smart kids,” they told me. When I was 5 years old I remember visiting the school “for gifted children” that I subsequently attended before I was actually admitted. I…