Home-schooled teen has always been competitive
Justin Hendrix hates to admit it, but Mother really does know best.
Last year, Justin was a member of the CSRA Home Education Association MATHCOUNTS team.
Justin, 14, said he prefers history to math, but "my mom made me" join the team.
Although he lives in North Augusta, Justin participated in the Columbia County middle school MATHCOUNTS competition in February as a part of the area home education team. Then a seventh-grader, he won in both the individual and team competitions.
"He realizes this year how being in MATHCOUNTS has helped him in the long run," said Justin's mother, Beth Hendrix. "This year, he has a 100 average in geometry. MATHCOUNTS developed his problem-solving skills, which is what geometry consists of."
Now in eighth grade, Justin has always has been home-schooled. He is taking geometry with a group of six home-school students and a private tutor as part of his curriculum this year.
Competition has been a part of his life, Justin said. In addition to MATHCOUNTS, he plays baseball for the Greater Augusta Home School team and last year he played second base for the North Augusta Recreation Department's travel team, the Nitros.
Justin also was a member of the Bible Drill Team at Curtis Baptist Church, where last year he qualified for state level competition.
In 2001, Justin won the Augusta Music Teachers Association Piano Festival. He said his favorite hobby is music.
Justin plays violin for the orchestra and guitar for the youth praise and worship team at Curtis Baptist.
Justin said he decided not to compete in MATHCOUNTS or Bible Drill this year because he's devoting all his attention to his fifth year of piano lessons.
"I just want to be a musician," he said.
Make Kids Count is a yearlong project dedicated to highlighting the achievements of children in our area.