Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Lola, 12, joins Mensa
An extremely bright Bargeddie schoolgirl has accepted an invitation to join Mensa.
The remarkable achievement recognises Lola Pearson’s IQ as being among the top two per cent of the world’s population.
The 12-year-old Hamilton College pupil now joins 20,000 other members of Mensa, the largest and oldest high IQ society, across Britain, including former Countdown maths genius Carol Vorderman.
Lola made the decision to take the test herself and said: “I read something online about common personality traits in people with a high IQ and recognised many of them in myself, so decided to get tested.”
Lola’s mum Lisa always had a feeling that her daughter was gifted, explaining: “I suspected from when she was little that she was highly intelligent.
“She didn’t speak a word until she was two, but when she did it was in full sentences.
“I also remember people rolling their eyes when I remarked that Lola was very bright and needed to be challenged more; but her Mensa membership has helped to vindicate my thoughts.”
Hamilton College principal, Tom McPhail, said: “Congratulations go to Lola on what is a significant achievement; we are very proud of her receiving an invitation to join Mensa.
“Hamilton College not only recognises the individual gifts and talents of our young people, but nurtures them.
“We regularly join together as a whole school community to celebrate the considerable achievements of our children and young people in a wide range of areas.
“This helps to create and develop, in each of them, a real sense of self-belief.
“We deliver a challenging, inclusive education which is unique to each pupil and our philosophy promotes excellence in the individual and their preferred areas of learning.”