It is said that there comes a point in every mathematics student’s education when he hears himself saying to the teacher, “I think I understand”– and that’s the point at which he has hit a wall. Making sure that all gifted students hit their own personal walls is crucial for developing the empathy with the rest of the world. When they see their less lucky peers struggle academically, they need to be able to say “I know how it feels,”– and be telling the truth.