17-year-old Vilma Lindvall belongs to the five percent of the population who are considered to be particularly gifted. At home, her parents woke her up with bright carpet numbers every morning and she felt ready for school early. When she got there she could already read, count and write.

"Getting started with learning the alphabet then felt like a bang," says Vilma.

Did not get moved up

Already in preschool Vilma's parents wanted her to be moved to school, which they were not allowed to hear. Then followed years of under-stimulation, exclusion and bullying.

- I was depressed already as a six-year-old and more or less suicidal. I felt that I was never listened to, which meant that after a while I just stopped talking, says Vilma.

Needed adjustments for meaningful learning

Last year, the Swedish National Association for Special Talent (RFSB) was founded, where Vilma's mother Charlotta Lindvall is the chair of the local department in Örebro. According to the School Inspection's surveys, on average there are one to three students in each class who are particularly gifted and who need adjustments to get meaningful learning.

- It's starting to move on this issue now. We had an information day for educators earlier this fall and it was packed, says Charlotta.

Mental illness

That more people especially gifted than Vilma did poorly in school with mental illness as a result, Charlotta noticed through conversations from other parents.

Play

She talks about conversations from parents to particularly gifted children who are mentally ill.

School got better for Vilma in the six, but then she felt so bad that it was difficult to receive the help she received.

- It is only now in high school that I feel good again, she says.

Want to become a veterinarian

Vilma goes on the natural science program with a scientific extension at the Kvinnerstaskolan in Örebro, with the aim of becoming a veterinarian.

- I get the teaching adapted. For example, I have tested English and Swedish, I can write assignments that are much more difficult than the other students and the anatomy test I had to do in Latin instead of Swedish, Vilma says happily.