This session is part of the ESC Region 11 GT Summit, a one-day event designed to offer educators a personalized GT Update tailored to their specific needs through engaging and targeted learning experiences. This session counts as 1.5 hours of GT Update credit with a focus on the nature and needs of gifted learners. In this session, we’ll embark on a journey to understand the peaks and valleys of asynchronous development in young learners and how it intersects with perfectionism. Just like climbing a mountain, the path to growth for young students can be uneven—where cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development doesn’t always progress at the same pace. As educators, we can help guide students through these challenging terrains to help them reach their full potential. We’ll explore how perfectionism can be both a motivating force and a challenging obstacle for young learners and discuss strategies to help students navigate the rugged paths of self-regulation, learning, and social interactions with confidence.