Spring Break
14-year-old turns down Ivy Leagues for HBCU
Ural Garrett/Black College Wire
Issue date: 7/20/08 Section: Student Life
"His discipline comes from his parents," said Stewart Sr., who believes that parents should lead by example if they want their children to succeed. Making sure that parents focus on a child's education and that they participate in educational programs is what Ava Stewart gave as advice toward parents.
"Just like we run behind football, basketball and other sports, we need to run behind academics," said Ava Stewart, who teaches middle school for the East Baton Rouge school system. "If your child needs help in school, go seek help for your child."
At the time of the interview with Black College Wire, Stewart Jr., who has garnered plenty of attention from the national media, was preparing to be interviewed for Ebony magazine later that day.
"Well, for me, the media attention hasn't been a problem … I'm the modest type," said Stewart Jr. Keeping modest and humble is easy for him; he tutors kids, is a part of the youth ministry and sings in the choir at Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Faith is also important to the Stewart family because according to Stewart Sr., keeping their Christian values first helped tremendously. Though he was homeschooled, Stewart said that attending church also kept him socialized.
"If you keep Christian values first, everything will be much easier," said Stewart Jr. While his academic career may be going hundreds of miles an hour, he said that he's still a kid who loves to play video games, watch television, play sports and more. Stewart Jr. also said that in the fall, he would like to participate in music activities on campus.
"Just like we run behind football, basketball and other sports, we need to run behind academics," said Ava Stewart, who teaches middle school for the East Baton Rouge school system. "If your child needs help in school, go seek help for your child."
At the time of the interview with Black College Wire, Stewart Jr., who has garnered plenty of attention from the national media, was preparing to be interviewed for Ebony magazine later that day.
"Well, for me, the media attention hasn't been a problem … I'm the modest type," said Stewart Jr. Keeping modest and humble is easy for him; he tutors kids, is a part of the youth ministry and sings in the choir at Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church. Faith is also important to the Stewart family because according to Stewart Sr., keeping their Christian values first helped tremendously. Though he was homeschooled, Stewart said that attending church also kept him socialized.
"If you keep Christian values first, everything will be much easier," said Stewart Jr. While his academic career may be going hundreds of miles an hour, he said that he's still a kid who loves to play video games, watch television, play sports and more. Stewart Jr. also said that in the fall, he would like to participate in music activities on campus.
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