嘿嘿视频

Runs in the Family

Two child prodigies from the same family attend 嘿嘿视频.

L-to-R: Tiara, Taji and Tanishq Abraham
Left to right: Tiara, Taji and Tanishq Abraham photographed on campus. (Karin Higgins/嘿嘿视频)

When 14-year-old Tiara Abraham first started classes at 嘿嘿视频 this quarter, she already knew what to expect 鈥 her older brother has been enrolled there since he was 12. 

In fact, Tiara comes from an Aggie family: mom Taji earned her M.P.V.M. in 1997 and brother Tanishq 鈥18 graduated with a degree in biomedical engineering and is currently working toward his Ph.D. (Dad Bijou went to Cornell University, but he still wears his Aggie gear proudly.) 

鈥淒uring the whole orientation, it was about getting used to 嘿嘿视频,鈥 said Tiara. 鈥淚 was, like, I already know.鈥 

Like Tanishq, she鈥檚 been taking college classes since she was 7. She received her associate鈥檚 degree and is transferring to 嘿嘿视频 with her general education requirements already under her belt. 

But Tiara is on her own wunderkind path. 

Unlike most of her family of scientists, Tiara is pursuing a musical education. A soprano, she plans to major in vocal performance. 

鈥淲e were at first skeptical, because being a singer is competitive and there鈥檚 no guarantee how far you can go,鈥 said Taji. 鈥淭hat was always a fear for us. But it鈥檚 always good to be in something you enjoy doing. There鈥檚 no point in forcing her to do science just because it brings more security.鈥 

Three generations: Thankam Mathew, her daughter Taji with her husband Bijou, and their children Tanishq and Tiara Abraham
Left to right: Brother and sister Tanishq and Tiara Abraham, grandmother Thankam Mathew, and parents Bijou and Taji Abraham. (Karin Higgins/嘿嘿视频)

Added dad Bijou, a software engineer, her passion for singing is evident in her performances. 鈥淪he鈥檚 usually a shy kid, but when she goes to perform, she鈥檚 different,鈥 he said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 not nervous at all. When she鈥檚 onstage it鈥檚 a completely different Tiara.鈥 

She already has extensive experience. At 10, she performed at Carnegie Hall after winning an international singing competition. That same year, she debuted a holiday album. She has also performed with the 嘿嘿视频 University Chorus, which she will continue as an undergraduate, albeit at a distance as the quarter requires remote instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

鈥淏asically, we are recording ourselves for our choir,鈥 Tiara said. 鈥淚 will sing my part, and then the choir director will put it together.鈥 

Tanishq, too, has adapted his studies to the circumstances. This quarter he is a teaching assistant for the introductory biomedical engineering course, and continues his research applying deep learning to pathology. 

鈥淢y research is computational, so I don鈥檛 actually have to go to campus,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 doing it from my computer, so that鈥檚 an advantage of my research.鈥 

With two child prodigies in the family, Taji said she often is asked the secret 鈥 even what she ate during pregnancy. 鈥淚 always get that,鈥 she laughed. 鈥淸The answer is] nothing special. A lot of junk food, I guess?鈥 

In all seriousness, she said the key was being open to what her children are capable of. She has devoted her time to homeschooling both children, and acts as chauffeur between their home in Sacramento and the Davis campus. 

Taji has even taken classes with them. When Tanishq first showed an interest in higher learning at 7, she lobbied the community college to give him a chance. But she had to attend with him. 

鈥淚 think the professor wanted my mom to be there as well 鈥 just to make sure I wasn鈥檛 disruptive or anything,鈥 said Tanishq. 鈥淚 was just there to learn.鈥 

Last summer she took a piano class with Tiara. 鈥淚 thought, 鈥業鈥檒l try this. It won鈥檛 be that bad,鈥欌 said Taji. 鈥淏ut, oh, my gosh, it was so hard. Tiara would help me out on the piano at home. Luckily, I made it through!鈥 

For Bijou, the unconventional path his children have taken is just one aspect that means added attention for his family. 鈥淭hey are normal kids in every other respect,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey fight, have fun and this is just their unique gift they have.鈥

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