“If you are passionate about what you do, and I am passionate about many things, especially math and science, it will work out well,”
A lot has indeed worked out well for this extraordinary teenager. When she was 15, Saheela Ibraheem made headlines as one of the youngest students to be admitted into Harvard University and also named among The World’s 50 Smartest Teenagers.
And that’s not her only story; the genius was accepted at 13 other colleges, including the prestigious MIT, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Brown, Princeton, Columbia, and the University of Chicago.
Saheela Ibraheem, who is currently a neurologist undergraduate in Harvard and is going to graduate this May, was recently celebrated at the White house by the Obamas for her outstanding accomplishment. She was one of those honoured by the US government to mark The Black History Month.
She credits her huge success to her parents whose unremitting support has helped fuel her passion and prodded her to be the best she can be. She remembers how they have often spent time teaching her some courses her schools didn’t offer and helping her understand some of her tough subjects. Even though they were not allowed to defy her personal policies; like offering to help her with her homework.
“She’s like always independent. I never get to help with her homework because she’d say ‘it’s my work mommy, not yours.”
Saheela’s mother explains.
Saheela believes that the recipe for success is simply discovering one’s passion at an early age and taking it seriously.She found hers at the age of 5 and has since made deliberate efforts to hone it.
And the result?Absolutely evident to all.
For Saheela, life is merrier when it’s not all work and no play. She loves to play softball, soccer, and the trombone. She also sings in the school choir and serves as president of the school’s investment club.
Despite her many additional interests, the African princess remains on top of her game. She boasts a SAT score of 2,340 SAT (a whopping 800 in the math section, 790 in writing and 750 in reading). Saheela has huge plans for the future. She hopes to major in either neurobiology or neuroscience, and hopes to become a scientist in order to study how the brain works.
Saheela’s creed is summed in just six words: Be passionate about what you do!
Wow! Saheela is really a big inspiration to many young people out there. Thumbs up!
Yes she is. Thank you Victor.