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Seven-year-old Ainan needs a place at university BY
Tom Fitzpatrick
Are you smarter than a seven-year-old?
The answer is probably not if the child in question is Ainan Cawley —
the son of London-Mayo Irishman Valentine Cawley — who is this week
seeking help to send his young son to university.
Despite his tender years, Ainan Cawley is the world’s only known
chemistry prodigy having broken world records in his scientific studies.
Ainan recently entered the Singaporean Book of Records as the youngest
person in history to attain an O-Level certificate.
And now his parents are worried that if they cannot find an appropriate
university to hone his talents he will be unable to keep his phenomenal
progress going at the same rate.
Ainan is half-European and half-Asian. His father Valentine is a writer
and former physicist from Co. Mayo who grew up in London. Ainan’s
mother, Syahidah, is a Malay Singaporean.
Mr Cawley said: “We are looking for a place that will show Ainan
some flexibility and is willing to accommodate a seven-year-old.
“We are open as to where Ainan will go. I just want to ensure
it will be a good experience.
“Too many people have a bad experience of university because of
a poor fit between international culture and the student’s personality.
“I wish to avoid that for Ainan.”
Ainan was pre-schooled in London but the family now lives in Singapore
from where they have launched an appeal to find Ainan a university that
will best suit his special needs.
The child prodigy is now set to take his A-Level in chemistry but his
parents are concerned about the next step for the talented youngster.
Mr Cawley said: “The medium of instruction should be in English
while the university must have a strong Chemistry department, a safe environment
and a warm, welcoming culture.
“Ainan’s needs are great, various and growing and to better
suit these needs we are asking for sponsorship, to help Ainan find a university
that is willing to take on a seven-year-old chemist.”
Ainan has many hobbies including drawing, reading, bowling, writing poems
and comics.
His favourite television shows are Mythbusters, Mr. Bean and, appropriately,
Brainiac.
Ainan educated himself in science through surfing the internet and his
family were stunned when he began to answer test papers from a chemistry
book he had been given on a whim.
Although he only picked up an O-Level textbook last year for the first
time, he sat his chemistry exam just five months later at the British
Council in Singapore — alongside four rather surprised adults.
To contact the Cawley family in relation to Ainan’s appeal, email
the.cawleys@ gmail.com
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