Tarah became a published author at four when her story, “Easter Bunny,” was selected to be published in the book “Visions Anthology”. She also joined the Emerson Jogging Club, where she was one of only a few children who could run a whole mile without walking. She was the first one to total twenty miles and the child to run the most total miles ever. She was also the youngest in the club. By the 100th day of the school year, she had read a hundred books (which, for every five books completed, was rewarded by the school with a Personal Pan Pizza’s from Pizza Hut). ...Certainly enough of a perk for any kid worth their salt to keep reading, right! Her Tap solo was the Opening number for the School Talent Show, where she was (again) the youngest performing by two whole years. For hobbies, she and her best friend, Marlayna, began collecting “My Little Ponies.” This ballooned over the next seven years to an accumulation of over 200 of them! ...some of which, like the pizza, were great rewards for a job well done. One thing about Tarah, she would do anything if there was a prize involved.
In March came the statement that would shape a huge sector of Tarah’s life. Marcy, the acrobatics teacher at the studio, said to Tarah’s mom: “This child has real talent, and if you plan on taking advantage of your daughter’s gift, she needs a serious gymnastics coach right now.” So, Tarah began Gymnastics at the renowned Desert Devils Gymnastics Academy with coach Stormy Eaton. Up until now, it had all been pretty much fun and games. But Marcy was right—Tarah needed some serious focus and direction with her talent if she hoped to reach her full potential. By the end of this year (age six) Tarah was training dance and gymnastics eight hours a week. She had decided that her goal was to make the National Gymnastics Team one day (composed of the Top 20 best gymnasts in the Country). And she would stick by that goal for more than a decade to come.
Back at school, Tarah’s ITBS scores placed her well over a year ahead of her actual school grade, and the Stanford-Binet I.Q. Test placed her mental age at just over 9 years—the top .001% of kids in the country. In November, she attended a Christmas Production of “The Nutcracker,” loved it, and pronounced that next year she was going to do that! However, with the youngest allowed member of the company being 2 years older than her daughter, Tarah's mom didn’t see how. |
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