Dubai: Parizad Bidshahri is not your usual 16-year-old.
The Class XI student of Winchester School in Dubai can wax eloquent on the essence of infinity, the wonders of the human brain and the state of consciousness. The books she reads are beyond her years.
And her exceptional intelligence saw her scoop up 10 medals at the World Scholar's Cup, an international team academic tournament with students participating from over 40 countries held in Dubai last week, even helping break the record by winning the overall first place in the senior division by 1,000 points.
Identified as a "gifted" student of existential intelligence, the prodigy has been acknowledged as an "autonomous learner" within the gifted and talented individual education plan of the school. This identity essentially allows her to take on a broader and more advanced course of study than her peers.
Rohan Roberts, Senior Leader and Head of Professional Development at Winchester School, said, "Parizad's output as a student is phenomenal. She is a prodigious learner, reader and writer. She has a heightened sense of curiosity, chooses texts beyond her age and has a strong need to find answers to higher-order problems and existential questions."
Besides studying for regular subjects of her IGCSE course, she self-studies additional subjects and has in the process become the Middle East's first student to study astronomy (Edexcel Astronomy GSCE from the UK).
One of three siblings born to Iranian parents, Parizad is quite at ease with her advanced capabilities. "I always knew I was more able. But I didn't realise I was gifted. It helps to know I am talented as it challenges me to learn further," she said, adding, that she plans to pursue neurosciences in the years to come.
Besides academics, Parizad is the deputy head girl at school and heads the science and astronomy clubs. Her story The Open Door was shortlisted in the top 10 best short stories at the 2012 Emirates Festival of Literature.
