Cebuano kid conquers world of Math

William Joshua King talks about his experience competing in international and local mathematics meetings. With him are his teachers (from left) science teacher Caril Bridgette Macua and Bethany Christian School English coordinator and English teacher, Sheryl Dacua. (CDN PHOTO/ CHOY ROMANO)

Like many 11 year olds, William Joshua King likes to play computer games and basketball.

William Joshua King though is not all about play, in his sixth grade, he was in Bulgaria and Romania, to compete in Mathematics competitions, winning for himself and bringing honor to the country. This is aside from dominating the local Math quiz circuit.

Last month, King  graduated from his elementary studies  in the Bethany Christian School as second honorable mention with a Youth Excellence Award from the Department of Science and Technology.

He was gold medalist in the 17th Clock Tower School Romania International Mathematics Competition in Valcea, Romania last March 20 – 23.

In the prestigious Bulgaria International Mathematics Competition in Burgas, Bulgaria in July last year, William won two awards – Merit award in the individual category and bronze in the team category.

Last December in Taguig, Metro Manila, King was silver medalist in the 10th International Mathematics and Science Olympiad.

He was also conferred the Highest Distinction with 99 percentile rank by the University of South Wales – Australia International Assessment for Schools.

Throughout his elementary years, he has competed in over 20 competitions and receiving over 30 awards.

While other kids are now enjoying vacation time,  King will  start a four-day math training in Iloilo City sponsored by the Mathematics Trainers Guild (MTG) today. If he hurdles this training, he will move to Manila for a month-long training. These MTG trainings are qualifiers for a tournament in Korea in July.

Training days have 8-hour sessions spent inside a function room turned into classroom-like hall.

WHIZ KID

Standing a little over 4-feet tall, the tween math whiz who sat down with Cebu Daily News for an interview was in a blue-checkered  button-down polo shirt and  brown slacks. His fair complexion, black hair and almond eyes reflect his Chinese ancestry.

Seated in a swivel chair in one of the board rooms of a well-known hotel chain his family owns, he proceeded to answer questions thrown at him by  the reporter with a confidence belying his age.

Asked what would be his advice to children his age: “Always study hard. There is time for everything, and always pray to God,” he answers looking straight into the eyes of his interviewer.

William is evidently witty, his intelligence  seemingly neither canned nor rehearsed. His fast-clipped answers indicates his proficiency in the English language.

With eyes gleaming with excitement and the right mix of seriousness, he explains that his summer will be spent training in Iloilo and possibly in Manila, in readiness for another set of math competitions planned out for the entire year.

Asked if he ever gets bored, King said: “Yes,I get bored and tired, but there’s always discipline. There’s always time for math, or science or sports or playing time.”

William recalls that his interest in math began at the tender age of six years. He remembers his first-ever win when he was a grade one pupil competing in the Metrobank MTAP (Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines) DepEd Challenge where he won first place.

“But I still wasn’t part of MTG at that time. I joined MTG when I was in grade three,” he said.

According to MTG’s ‘About Us’ section in their website, they are “a non-stock, nonprofit organization of mathematics teachers committed to develop and promote excellence in

Mathematics education and training in the Philippines. It was organized in 1995 by a group of teachers who are all mathematics trainers in their respective schools.”

MTG helped hone  King into  the math prodigy he is today.

SCION

Born to a well-to-do family, William says his determination to succeed in competitions is anchored in his desire to score scholarship grants abroad. He hopes to study college in “Harvard, Princeton or Yale”.

“I want to be a doctor when I grow up. My aim is to get a scholarship for college so I don’t become a financial burden to my parents,” he adds.

“But you’re already rich,” joked CDN. The tween whiz could only flash a bright smile in  response.

William’s father is entrepreneur-slash-doctor John L. King, who graduated summa cum laude in Bachelor of  Science in   Chemistry  from USC and then went on to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Chicago.

Joy Christine Guanzon King, William’s mother, pursued accounting in college and joined the  family businesses.