Hi hello and happy September! We made it to what is famously believed to be a Top-Tier Month—“the best” per one Virgo-sun (Natalie), and “pretty cool” per one Virgo-rising (Mariah).
A little peak behind the proverbial curtain: August was nuts. From travels to exciting new projects to family stuff (everything is gucci!) to mercury in retrograde to crazy work schedules it was candidly, A Lot.
Did the craziness of the season (Leos, looking at you) stop these two precocious adults from prepping a multi-slide PowerPoint and presenting it as a form of quality time? Absolutely not. If anything, this month’s gifted + talented was such a bright spot, a favorite August moment. This means this silly project is accomplishing everything it needs to. Thank you so much for watching1 and for all your kind words! It means so much<3
Let’s dive into our August PowerPoint, shall we?
This month, Natalie’s research paper traversed into the trying and troubling tongue twisters throughout our time (try saying that 5x fast). Not only does she explore why tongue twisters are so difficult on the brain and tongue (it’s giving anatomy, it’s giving woman in STEM), but she also educates us on their intended purpose (to help teach the English language). We get into the riveting lore of classic twists of the tongue—where did Peter Piper come from and why does he insist on picking a peck of pickled peppers? Who are Fortis and Lenis, and how do you know if you are one or the other? Why is Glen Powell’s name so tricky to say aloud? How do Natalie and Mariah’s theatrical histr’ies (vulnerable) tie into tongue twisters?
Watch more to find out.
Speaking of theater kids (derogatory), for her August research paper, Mariah shares the history of the famed2, LaGuardia High School in New York. Going boots on the ground (reaching out to her Instagram community via an IG Story) Mariah conducted both primary and secondary research (Mrs. Woody, her elementary school librarian, would be proud) to better understand what it would’ve been like had Natalie and Mariah gone to chic arts high schools instead of like…prioritizing going to football games (LOL).
Press play to learn more about what it was like to go to high school with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, see who won what Senior Superlative, and check out who Mariah would cast in her dream LaGuardia HS musical production.
For August’s field trip, we bopped around Fort Greene (which—checks notes—used to actually be a fort). Our stops were as follows:
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) to watch Dìdi (go see!!)
re: September being the best month and Natalie’s birth month, our August homework was all about reflecting and processing—CW: aging.
Last month, we discussed Natalie getting all A’s in French (read: maintaining her Duolingo streak) and performing live. Safe to say, she’s crushing her Duo Streak, allez-vous la fille (or “you go girl” per Google Translate) and has been cast in three amazing shows—Open, Stay on September 5/6 & Munagenius on September 7—to close out August as we jazz walk into September! Not to mention that for her [redacted] birthday she plans to [redacted] at [redacted] on September 12. See you there!
For Mariah, August was all about reflecting on the multi-generational changes that come with getting older (fun!). Her homework this month was to schedule a tattoo appointment for a piece to represent her lovely Grandma Mattie Sue. Inspired by a recent trip where her grandma encouraged her to “make more of those moments where we’re all connected and together,” this tattoo will ensure that Mattie Sue will always be a part of Mariah’s moments. Excited for the tatt reveal in next month’s presentation!
Ticonderoga pencils down, that’s all for this month! Giving ourselves a gold star for getting through August and giving our subscribers one too for watching3. If you haven’t yet, follow gifted + talented on Instagram for silly memes and updates. TYSM and see ya next month.
we regret to inform August is even longer than our first presentation despite our best attempts at preparing shorter slides this go round. what can we say, we’re yappers! we’re working on it for next time<3
to be so real, the only reason this school was ever on my (mariah’s) radar was because it was the home of Timothée Chalamet’s high school theatre career and the famed “Statistics, Statistics” performance.
again, so long, so sorry!!
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