Children Freeing the Children

We hear about couples adopting children to give them better lives, adults sponsoring children from third world countries to alleviate them from the poverty that they were born into. We hear the likes of Angelina and Brad, or Madonna who do this admirable deed of adopting children.  In fact, it’s the current ‘in thing’ with Hollywood stars all wanting to adopt children.  Of course, they’re such big stars and they can afford to help, donate and be charitable, so it’s not a surprise. However, hearing about a 12-year old helping to ‘free the children’, this is a surprise.

There are many children out there who need help; most of them live through each day with no food on the table. These kids have no choice but for Shannon Wong, a 12 year old, Grade 7 gifted child from Crosby Heights Public School, she believes that those of us who live much better lives than these children do have a choice, no matter how old or young we are. And that choice is to help.

Often, we associate ‘money’ as something that we need to have to be able to help others in need; what we haven’t realized is that when we have the will to do something, we can make things happen.
Let’s look at Shannon. When she came to know that there are many hungry children around the world, she was driven to help and came up with many ideas on how to help them. She started by using her skills and talents in competitions where she donated all her monetary awards to help ’free the children’.

At the tender age of 10, when she won the National Math Competition, she donated her monetary award to ‘Free the Children’ for the first time. ‘Free the Children’ is a charitable organization founded by Craig Kilburger.  Shannon joined the organization because this is where her heart is, to help free the children.

Here we are, all caught up with our own problems, going through life’s dilemma we call ‘hardships’, when in fact, there are children out there who are fighting to survive and hoping for the little things that we take for granted.  We are all engrossed with helping only ourselves, when there’s a 12-year-old girl striving hard and calling out to make us realize that if she can help, so can we.

Who would have thought that someone as young as Shannon could start making little steps at a very young age to make a difference for these unfortunate kids? The generous nature that Shannon has is so encouraging that GTAthismonth has decided to give her recognition for the little wonders she has made.

GTA: Tell us about yourself Shannon.
Shannon: I’m 12 years old and I go to Grade 7 gifted class at Crosby Heights Public School. I have a little brother named Brennan and he’s 10 years old. I enjoy playing sports like basketball and volleyball and I like playing my musical instruments. I like playing the drums the most. I am in sports teams in school and also in the school band where I play the drums.

Shannon, as she wrote her autobiography has also said:

“I am inquisitive, optimistic, and focused.  I am a voracious learner and enjoy tackling challenges. I have an easy temperament and a well-rounded personality.  I get along well with friends and schoolmates, and my teachers find me amiable.  Although I am only 12, I am crystal clear about what is right and wrong.  I provide a good role model for my brother.  I am proud of my accomplishments, but more proud of the moral compass that I have adopted from my parents.
When I was five, I demonstrated mental math in front of 300 people at the Chinese Cultural Centre. 

I was on the national honour roll in various math contests from the past 5 years, culminating in the provincial and national championships with the only perfect score that I won in the Fibonacci contest of 2006.  I was the winner of the International Math Kangaroo Contest and became one of four Canadian delegates to attend the Romanian Math Camp over the summer of 2007.

Several stories and poems I wrote have been published by Poetry Institute, Creative Communication, Staples, and the Learning Partnership.  In 2004, I was recognized by Staples as a “promising young author.”
An area of great achievement for me is music.  I demonstrate great versatility in the range of instruments I play: the piano, acoustic and electric guitars, Chinese fiddle, and drums.  I have won many trophies and passed various exams with distinction.  I started learning the Chinese fiddle 2 years ago and have since been asked to play at major social events in the GTA.” 

GTA: Judging from your achievements, it is obvious that you are a gifted and extraordinary kid. Do you still have time to be a normal kid? Do you still do what a normal 12 year old does?
Shannon: I manage my time quite wisely. I still am able to do my homework and still have time to play Wii and Playstation and dance revolution.

GTA:  What or who is your inspiration? What is the driving force that makes you achieve extraordinarily? Who inspires you to do everything that you do now?
Shannon: My family is the most supportive. They never say ‘no’ when I want to try something new.
Everything that Shannon does is what she desires and not because anyone forces her to do them.

GTA: At school, what is your favorite subject and why?
Shannon: I like a variety of different subjects. It’s hard to say… I like a lot of different subjects and I’m pretty well-rounded. I can’t choose only one of them. I like Math, Music, Gym…

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