Leonardo Blair, Youth Writer
Tiffany Butterfield
AT THIRTEEN, Tiffany Butterfield is already a genius- at Calculus. The teen recently returned to Jamaica from the University of Pennsylvania, where she completed a gifted children's Introduction to Calculus course and finished among the top three in her class. She was the youngest participant.
Tiffany's mother, Mrs. Grace Butterfield, said she knew that Tiffany was different before she started infant school.
"Before she started school at two, she could already write her name, colour, and count. She was always helping the other children with their work and the teachers would tell me that she was an above average student," she said proudly.
Tiffany was classified as a gifted child by the MICO CARE centre after she was not allowed to take the common entrance examinations because she was too young.
She started St. Hugh's High School for girls at age nine, where she has placed in the top seven for the past four years.
Despite her gift, Tiffany, who wants to be a Doctor says she doesn't like English and is not so good at Biology and Physics.
"Biology and Physics are giving me a hard time and I don't really like English. You have to know too much," she said.
She says she is living a normal teenage life.
"I listen to music ...a lot! I play badminton and eat a lot of junk food, nothing special," she smiled.
"I study when I have a test and do my homework, I don't go out of my way to do work."
Tiffany is a Christian and attends the Pembroke Hall Methodist Church where she is the President of the youth group. She is also a part of a dance group called Fifth Element.
"I can never say that I have had problems," Mrs Butterfield said, "Mostly, she is a good girl and I am very proud of her. I think I was blessed. I'm just hoping that by the time she reaches a full teenager she won't start giving any problems."
- Junior Dowie
