By Emb Hashmi
Asian World have exclusively interviewed the parents of the whiz kid that has been crowned Child Genius 2014.
Sharon’s mother told us they do all they can to support their daughter “we used to read storybooks (of about 15 pages) to Sharon. At the age of 2 she showed that she could recite them back to us from her memory. At the age of 3 she knew all her Math’s times’ tables and square roots and had a reading age of 9.” She went on to say “as she grew up she showed particular fleur for mathematics and she was able to solving complex Math’s problems with great ease.”
When did you know your daughter was gifted?
Sharon ‘s intelligence at a young age particularly the ability to think analytically and logically which was far beyond what some one of her age would do. At school she was always working at about 4 years higher than her usual age group children
How did you measure her intelligence?
Sharon enjoys academic challenges and loved to be clever and intelligent. She is very quick and things come of ease to her.
At what age did she do something that made you think she’s a little different to anyone else?
When Sharon was 4 months old she used to use different signs and sounds to tell us what she wanted rather than cry, which I found, was something different to anyone else of that age.
Does she train for competitions or is it all natural to her?
Sharon doesn’t train for academic competitions .She relies on her natural intelligence. She has always been self-motivated and has a drive to win.
Sharon plays competitive Chess and undergoes training for that. She has to memorize and revise hundreds of chess moves for the competitions.
How much time does she spend reading and educating her mind?
Sharon spends about 2 hours a day reading and educating her mind. She spends an hour reading non-fiction books and an hour for fiction books before she goes to sleep.
Does her intelligence make her popular or unpopular with her peers?
Sharon is fortunate to go to a school where academics are accepted. The pupils in her class don’t tease her instead they praise her for her intelligence.
What does she do in her spare time?
Sharon enjoys playing the piano (grade5) and violin (grade5) to refresh her mind.
She plays badminton and netball and does swimming. (Completed level12)
What does she want to do in the future?
Sharon would like to contribute to the field of cranial neuroscience and the maxillofacial field.
What has obtained so far in terms of qualifications and awards?
British under 11 girls chess champion 2013.
English under 11 and under 12 youth chess champion.
Member of the National junior chess squad.
Captain of the Manchester chess team.
Represented England in the world youth chess championship in 2013 at Al –Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Gold award in the National Primary School Math’s challenge.
Distinction award in the English-speaking board exam.
School head teacher’s award in English, Math’s and Science.
Grade 5 in piano & violin.
Sharon’s advice to other young people who don’t think they are bright but can increase their intelligence and do well in school?
Sharon says -that every child is intelligent. It’s just the way you use your intelligence to achieve your goals.
Sharon’s five top tips to increase intelligence
Things to increase your intelligence & do well in school:-
Reading books- –stimulates thoughts and improves vocabulary, is especially important to boost your intelligence.
You could train your brain by doing logical puzzles and crosswords.
Think creatively.
Don’t forget to eat healthy balanced diet, regular physical exercise and get adequate sleep.
“Aim high, set goals, and work at your steady pace, most of all you should enjoy what you do to get the most out of it.” Child Genius 2014 Sharon
