Esther Okade is a normal 10-year-old. She is also a university undergraduate. No big deal, eh?
Esther, from Walsall, an industrial town in the UK’s West Midlands region, is one of the country’s youngest college freshmen.
The talented 10-year-old enrolled at the
Open University, a UK-based distance learning college, in January and is
already top of the class, having recently scored 100% in a recent exam.
Open University, a UK-based distance learning college, in January and is
already top of the class, having recently scored 100% in a recent exam.
“It’s so interesting. It has the type of
maths I love. It’s real maths — theories, complex numbers, all that type
of stuff,” she giggles. “It was super easy. My mum taught me in a nice
way.”
maths I love. It’s real maths — theories, complex numbers, all that type
of stuff,” she giggles. “It was super easy. My mum taught me in a nice
way.”
She adds: “I want to (finish the course)
in two years. Then I’m going to do my PhD in financial maths when I’m
13. I want to have my own bank by the time I’m 15 because I like numbers
and I like people and banking is a great way to help people.”
in two years. Then I’m going to do my PhD in financial maths when I’m
13. I want to have my own bank by the time I’m 15 because I like numbers
and I like people and banking is a great way to help people.”
And in case people think her parents have pushed her into starting university early, Esther emphatically disagrees.
“I actually wanted to start when I was
seven. But my mum was like, “you’re too young, calm down.” After three
years of begging, mother Efe finally agreed to explore the idea.
seven. But my mum was like, “you’re too young, calm down.” After three
years of begging, mother Efe finally agreed to explore the idea.
Esther has always jumped ahead of her
peers. She sat her first Math GSCE exam, a British high school
qualification, at Ounsdale High School in Wolverhampton at just six,
where she received a C-grade. A year later, she outdid herself and got
the A-grade she wanted. Then last year she scored a B-grade when she sat
the Math A-level exam.
peers. She sat her first Math GSCE exam, a British high school
qualification, at Ounsdale High School in Wolverhampton at just six,
where she received a C-grade. A year later, she outdid herself and got
the A-grade she wanted. Then last year she scored a B-grade when she sat
the Math A-level exam.
Esther’s mother noticed her daughter’s
flair for figures shortly after she began homeschooling her at the age
of three. Initially, Esther’s parents had enrolled her in a private
school but after a few short weeks, the pair began noticing changes in
the usually-vibrant youngster.
flair for figures shortly after she began homeschooling her at the age
of three. Initially, Esther’s parents had enrolled her in a private
school but after a few short weeks, the pair began noticing changes in
the usually-vibrant youngster.
Efe says: “One day we were coming back
home and she burst out in tears and she said ‘I don’t ever want to go
back to that school — they don’t even let me talk!’
home and she burst out in tears and she said ‘I don’t ever want to go
back to that school — they don’t even let me talk!’
“In the UK, you don’t have to start school
until you are five. Education is not compulsory until that age so I
thought OK, we’ll be doing little things at home until then. Maybe by
the time she’s five she will change her mind.”
until you are five. Education is not compulsory until that age so I
thought OK, we’ll be doing little things at home until then. Maybe by
the time she’s five she will change her mind.”
Efe started by teaching basic number
skills but Esther was miles ahead. By four, her natural aptitude for
maths had seen the eager student move on to algebra and quadratic
equations.
skills but Esther was miles ahead. By four, her natural aptitude for
maths had seen the eager student move on to algebra and quadratic
equations.
However, Esther isn’t the only maths
prodigy in the family. Her younger brother Isaiah, 6, will soon be
sitting his first A-level exam in June.
prodigy in the family. Her younger brother Isaiah, 6, will soon be
sitting his first A-level exam in June.
[h/t CNN]