Does Canada’s brainiest kid live here?
Twelve-year-old Arjun Ram, a Norwood Park student, will be appearing on CBC’s ‘Canada’s Smartest Person Junior’
Arjun Ram is often called an “old soul.”
The 12-year-old Grade 7 student at Norwood Park Elementary School says having interests that differ from his peers — particularly an interest in politics — can be a tad alienating. Other times, he says, being an old soul is a good thing.
“Being an old soul means you know about a lot of things you should know about when you’re older,” he said.
Arjun has put that knowledge to the test as a contestant on CBC’s “Canada’s Smartest Person Junior.” He was one of 12 kids between the ages of eight and 12 across Canada chosen to compete on the show, which tests their intelligence in six categories (physical, musical, social, linguistic, logical and visual) for the coveted title.
Arjun said he decided to audition for the show after his mom, Priya Ramakrishnan, saw an ad on TV. After a series of back and forth with the show’s execs, he found out he had made the cut.
“I ran around the apartment so many times, I can’t even remember,” he said. “It was an amazing moment for me and I’ll never forget it.”
The show, which airs beginning next month, was filmed in August, so Arjun already knows the outcome (though he’s been sworn to secrecy).
“At first, when I was at the show, of course I was nervous, and I really wanted to win. At the same time, I was so excited, because you are one of the 12 kids around Canada to be chosen. For me, that is a huge honour,” he said. “All in all, it was possibly the greatest experience of my life, because I got to showcase my smarts in front of Canada.”
Arjun, whose school is located near Mohawk Road East and Upper James Street, got a chance to show off his adeptness at his favourite subjects (math, history and geography, and politics), as well as his other talents (he raps, plays the trumpet in the school band and plays basketball in his spare time).
Ramakrishnan said that as a parent, it was occasionally hard for her and her husband, Ramakrishnan Varadarajan, to watch Arjun face the tension and stress that was part of the filming experience.
“We were so proud. It was surreal at times,” she said. “It was such an honour — seeing him participate and try his best in front of multiple cameras and still keeping his composure. I think a lot of adults can’t even comprehend how he did that.”
For Arjun, who dreams of becoming a CBC news anchor, the experience was so rewarding because not only did he have a chance to showcase his smarts, but he got to learn that intelligence comes in all shapes and forms.
“It was so cool for me to be on the show and be noticed as really smart — but then everybody is really smart.”
The six-week series begins Nov. 14 at 8 p.m.