South Burlington, Vermont - November 8, 2011
Halloween is filled with all sorts of characters, including Alexis Jackson, better known as Lex. She knows she's different and owns it, dressing up as a nerdy version of herself.
"I like school too much to not be nerdy," she said.
Lex is a senior at Vermont Commons, a private school in South Burlington. She excels in all of her classes, but math is her favorite.
"It's like a rock for me; a central place where everything makes sense," she said.
In her Calculus class, the 16-year-old becomes a teacher to her classmates.
"When people don't get something I love to help out and make sure everyone is on the same page," she said.
Lex can help others out because she's a fast and zealous learner; say it once and she's got it.
"I don't ever learn stuff about math before it's taught to me, but once it's taught to me it sticks really fast," she explained.
Education expert Carol Story studies gifted kids; students who learn more quickly than most and retain information better. It's a controversial expression because some educators fear it slams other students, but gifted is how experts categorize these kids.
"Every child is a gift and that's important to remember. Giftedness comes in their behaviors and response to learning and their ability to learn at a different pace," Story said.
To succeed, Story says gifted kids need a good school environment, for Lex that means having an individualized learning plan.
"The Vermont Commons School is well known for addressing each child and challenging that child appropriately and not a lot of schools provide that opportunity," Story said.
An academic all-star, Lex's achievements read like a resume: founder of the school's math club, awards in math and Spanish, standout test scores, plus she excels in volleyball, hockey, piano, guitar and ukulele.
"I'm aware that I don't have the prettiest voice in the world and I definitely don't sing because I want to be a singer," she noted, "I just sing because I want somebody to sing when I'm playing."
"At 16 she has a lot of wisdom. She's taught me a lot," mom Carol Blattspieler said.
Lex's mom discovered her child was gifted when Lex was a baby; she cried a lot and wouldn't settle down for hours. Blattspieler called the doctor to see what was wrong and the pediatrician recognized that Lex would likely be gifted. Smart babies are not easily placated usually because they know what they want.
Reporter Gina Bullard: Does she ever give you any issues?
Carol Blattspieler: I mean... sure, she wants it her way, and why not?
Bullard: Do you consider yourself a typical 16-year-old?
Lex Jackson: Umm, probably not.
And her passion to learn keeps growing. One new avenue for Lex is slam poetry-- expressing her feelings through performance.
But she's still a teenager. Lex doesn't like homework and waits until the last minute to do it. She says there are too many other things to do. One thing she's bad at-- driving.
Lex is applying early decision to Colby College, a private liberal arts school in Maine. She hopes to major in neuroscience.
"Every single time I learn something new about neuroscience it blows my mind and I think it's fascinating," she said. "My favorite part is dreams and memories and where memories are stored."
Even with her smarts and success Lex stays grounded; her parents taught her to be humble.
"It's not fair to make someone else feel bad because something comes easier to me," she said.
It may come easy, but her mind is constantly racing. She's always looking for a new challenge and seems to need one.
"Sometimes I feel like a 30-year-old and act like a 2-year-old," she said.
A one-of-a-kind student, musician, poet-- you name it. And who knows what's next for Lex Jackson.
