INSPIRING: Tani Adewumi, the 11-year-old boy who says chess changed his life
A Nigerian family thanks the game of chess for helping them get to where they are today...
There are many parents who encourage their children to get into extracurricular activities. These aren't just a way to keep them busy, it is also a way for them to develop their skills, allowing them to become more independent.
When kids find what it is they are passionate about, it can be both empowering and sometimes it steers them into achieving personal goals. Their self motivation then creeps up and we get to see them working on something that literally lights up their eyes.
This is the case for 11-year-old Tani Adewumi, who is originally from Nigeria and moved to the US three years ago. His family decided to flee their country because they were afraid that they may be affected by the terror attacks from the Boko Haram group.
But it was before all that, that little Tani's passion for chess began. He speaks about the sport with such depth and he mentions more than once that it is through chess that he and his family are where they are today...
It's been about putting in the time. For me, I don't think I could have ever gotten far in chess without a great love of the game, that's what's been driving it for me all of these years. What I do remember from my childhood is that I would go to school; after school I would play soccer with my friends, and when I got home, I would sit down at my own little board where had my chessboard and chess books.
When people heard about Tani's championship title, things really did change for them. Tani's father, who is a real-estate agent, said: "A lot of people really helped us, a lot of people gave us financial (support) and money ... they donated money for us to get out from the shelter.
"We need to give back to the needy, because we know what it takes -- we've tasted everything. When we were in the shelter, some people are still there. We need to help the needy, especially the chess community and the people that need help. That's why we put the money into the foundation, to help people." (CNN)
The Adewumis have set up a GoFundMe page, which not only helped them find their feet in the US, but is also being used to help underprivileged children around the world.
Mr. Adewumi said that he cannot contain himself when they watch Tani play a game. The family feel indebted to the sport of chess and what it has done for them, so much so that they have contributed money to a Chess Organisation in Africa, encouraging people to take up the game.
When I'm watching him playing, it's just like your chest wants to burst out until it can be free. When he comes out... we just grab him and are celebrating with him...when he's lost the game, I embrace him, I encourage him. He has a philosophy that when you lose, you try again to work out what made you lose and encourage yourself to get better.
We love his philosophy and we hope that we all can learn from it. It is both powerful and definitely the way to go when it comes to living life holistically. If something doesn't work out, don't cry about it, work it out!
There's no doubt that soon we will be hearing that he has smashed the record and become the youngest grandmaster in the world.
Image Courtesy of Instagram