43
Poland teen on fast track to success
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted .Poland's Justin Edwards (right) received a BA in Communications from YSU when he was 18-years-old. He will graduate with his masters degree in spring 2011 at the age of 20..
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted .Justin Edwards, of Poland, has a stong passion for music. He learned to play the piano before he could read the music.
Photo
Neighbors | Submitted.Poland resident Justin Edwards can play various muscial instruments. He began first grade as a 4-year-old and considers music to be the reason for his academic success.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
Moving out and beginning college is a big step, especially for a 15-year-old.
Poland resident Justin Edwards matured at a faster pace than most teenagers. Graduating from Struthers High School at the age of 15 launched him into the real world.
“It was the best experience of my life. I did a lot of growing up,” he said.
As a child, Edwards began school ahead of most children. He began first grade at the age of 4.
“My mom wanted me to start a year early so I took the kindergarten entry exam and they were like, ‘Forget about kindergarten, just go to first grade!’” Edwards said.
From there, he skipped sixth grade which ultimately led to his early high school graduation in 2006.
Edwards said his mother began teaching him on the Suzuki Method at a very young age. This method is based heavily upon listening to music, learning to play music before learning to read the music and a positive learning environment. It is usually done between the ages 3 and 4.
She would play something on the piano and he would mimic what she played. He views music as being the primary tool that aided him in his academic success, especially with skipping grades.
Edwards was involved in sports such as baseball and bowling in high school and according to him, there was only one negative to advancing so quickly.
“I wouldn’t change a thing, although not being able to drive in high school was kind of awkward,” Edwards said.
Though he could have attended almost any academic institution of his choice, he chose to attend Youngstown State University. Both his parents are actively involved at YSU and he has always been around the university with his parents all of his life.
“It just made sense to stay here. It’s like my home,” he said.
To help cope with being on his own at such a young age, Edwards began to write poetry. This literary outlet, mixed with his background in music, led to him writing music lyrics and composing songs.
“I was a classically-trained musician who started listening to Kayne West and T-Pain and all that kind of stuff,” Edwards said. “It gave me a really unique take on how music is created.”
At the age of 18, Edwards obtained a bachelor’s degree in communications from YSU and he is currently pursuing a master’s in Student Affairs Leadership and Practice through the university. His anticipated graduation date is spring 2011. He will be 20 years old.
Right now, Edwards is unsure of what his future will hold. He made his musical performance debut in February and plans to incorporate more performances into his schedule. He would like to eventually utilize his degrees an academic adviser in an Arts College, but music, he says, has to be a part of his life.
“If I could make a living doing music, that’s my dream.” he said, “I just want to be around music all the time.”