Whiz Kid: Peace Gwam

Peace Gwam

• Age: 17

• School: Eleanor Roosevelt High School

• Accomplishments: Peace was a double winner in the Prince George’s County Public Schools' first Scholastic Olympics, placing first in American History and second in Speech/Oratorical. She brought home the gold in history by applying what she had learned in her high school classes. In the oratory competition, Peace wowed the judges with a speech declaring that in the midst of Barack Obama’s new emphasis on science and math — history, literature and art needed to be emphasized as well. “We need to be well rounded,” she said.

• As a senior at Roosevelt, Peace is on the honor roll and serves as president of its International Club; secretary of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD); and member of Truth, Love & Character.

• Keys to Awesomeness:
• Goals: “Every time I want to do something, I write it down,” Peace said. She not only jots down goals, she gives herself timetables for those goals. Her current list includes:

1. To secure scholarships and be debt free on the day she graduates from college
2. To go to business school at the University of Virginia
3. To get into an internship in her second year of college
4. To travel abroad to Spain in her third year of college

• Faith: Peace said she relies on God’s help to reach her goals. “Every time I need something, I just pray to God to help me,” she said, recalling praying for her grades to get better. She also prayed for help with her senior expenses, as she was facing graduation and prom costs. That’s when she won the Scholastic Olympics and the accompanying prize money.