Your news: Sixth-grader overcomes early childhood challenges and wins science fair
On Thursday, Dec. 2, John Muir Literacy Academy, in Hoffman Estates, held its annual science fair. The participants range from kindergartners to sixth-graders.
Most students look forward to this event. One student in particular Chloe Jefferson, felt this was the most important science fair for her since it would be her last year at John Muir.
Chloe has been at John Muir since the age of 3. At the age of 2, she was diagnosed with a learning disability. Speech and occupational therapy was needed to help her communicate and Chloe received therapy for almost three years.
Not long thereafter, Chloe was able to speak and think at the same level and sometimes above her peers. She expressed an interest in science and participated in her first science fair in the first grade. Her project was titled “How Smoking Affects Your Lungs.” Chloe's score placed her in the first-place category and she won her first trophy for having the highest score overall for her grade level.
Chloe participated in the science fair every year winning a first-place ribbon every time. She won her second trophy in the fourth grade with a project showing how you can see your own DNA. Acquiring a third trophy for Chloe was sure to be one of the highlights of her sixth-grade year.
For this year's project, Chloe decided to demonstrate how stomach acid breaks food down. The competition was tough and she was nervous, wondering what if she didn't win. Chloe was the only sixth-grader to come in first place, automatically awarding her with her third trophy.
When asked by one of the judges what she'd like to be when she grows up, she said, “I'd like to be an anime artist that loves science!”
Her proud mom, Bernadette Jefferson, thinks back to a time when Chloe wasn't able to talk clearly or answer questions in the appropriate context.
“Now Chloe is an intelligent, gifted artist who's very articulate. She has no fear of public speaking and does it quite often at church and at school.
“Chloe is very happy that she was able to overcome her early childhood disability. She looks forward to a bright future ahead at Eisenhower Junior High where she will start seventh grade in the fall.”
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