RAISING ‘STAR’ KIDS: Get More Inspiration on Bringing Out The Very Best in Your Child

Previously, we brought you Angela Osaigbovo, Kiki Hector-Fowobaje, Serena Teluwo, siblings, Oluwadare and Oluwadarasimi Alabi and Precious Adedayo Ige’s inspiring stories. If you missed it, read here, here, here, here and here.

Today, meet 8-year-old Cherish Ifeoma Amby-Okolo, who has bagged several awards at spelling bee and scrabble competitions, and her mum, Ada Amby-Okolo:

Cherish’s mum tells us, “As a toddler, her favourite toys were puzzles. She is able to stay in her room for hours just to put a puzzle together. Growing up with this attitude made it possible for her to learn to be by herself to read, and while her mates were asking for dolls, she was asking for puzzles: number, word and floor puzzles. By the time she was 6 years, she was already putting together 750 and 1000 piece puzzles. She won all the spelling Bee in Grange school for her set and she has always been on top of her class. She has also gone on to win top 10% Academic Award consecutively. Parents should watch out for those activities that their children naturally enjoy and help them harness them. When children are interested in a particular activity, they will be self-motivated and excel.”

Cherish has the following, among others, to her credit:

SPELLING BEE Award (SKYE BANK SPELLING BEE 2012/2013)

SCRABBLE PROTÉGÉ SCHOOL AWARD 2012; 2^{ND Position}

SCRABBLE PROTÉGÉ SCHOOL AWARD 2013; 3^{RD  Position}

10% ACADEMIC AWARD; 5^TH Position (GRANGE SCHOOL EASTER TERM 2014)

LAGOS STATE SCRABBLE COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY 2014; 3^{RD Position}

10% ACADEMIC AWARD; 3^RD Position (GRANGE SCHOOL SUMMER TERM 2014)

On the challenges so far, her mum adds, “The journey so far has not been easy; we have been trying to balance academic demands and other co-curricular. Sometimes, she has had to miss classes to go to some competition and that will result in more work input to make up for lost time. However, I have tried to create an enabling environment. I encourage her by providing her with all the resources she needs and pushing her to exceed her own expectations, which of course, meets some resistance sometimes but at the end, the result has always been rewarding.

Playing scrabble has really helped her to be more outspoken, forthcoming and alert. It has also served as a reward mechanism for excellence since she must maintain such standards to continue with the activities.”

See excerpts from our chat with Cherish:

What’s your regular day like?

Cherish: My regular routine starts with morning prayers, cleaning and dressing up. After making my bed, I go downstairs for breakfast before going to school. I always take a quick nap after school and then attend to my homework and go for co-curricular. If there is time after that, I will ride my bike with my brother. I end my day by taking a bath and dinner with the whole family. My dad normally tucks my brother and I in with a story after night prayers.

What’s your favourite subject?

Cherish: Numeracy.

What inspires you to want to be the best at what you do?

Cherish: My parents inspire and challenge me to keep getting better.

What do you think have contributed to your success so far?

Cherish: Hard work and can-do spirit. I’m always reading and playing word games.

What other hobbies do you have?

Cherish: Reading novels, I also like puzzles and tennis. I also love mad science – I get to learn how a lot of things are made in the laboratory.

What competitions do you aspire to participate in the future?

Cherish: National Scrabble Competition in Makurdi and International Scrabble Competition in Ireland.

What would you like to become in the future?

Cherish: I will like to be a Medical Doctor because I like helping sick and needy people. I’m preparing myself by studying very hard.

(The 7th, 18th and 25th persons to comment win a recharge card each).