Schools
WHIZ KID OF THE WEEK: Chad Fisher
This Pikesville Middle School student is making 1,000 paper cranes—a number that, in Japanese culture, brings luck and longevity. His mother's illness and a book inspired him to take on the project.
Whiz Kid's Name: Chad Fisher
Whiz Kid's Age: 12
Whiz Kid's School: Pikesville Middle
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Whiz Kid's Accomplishment: Creating 1,000 origami-style paper cranes for the Cancer Institute of St. Joseph Medical Center.
Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: “In Japanese culture, 1,000 [of these] is supposed to give people a wish, and I wanted to have one,” said Chad.
Find out what's happening in Pikesvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Seventh-grader Chad Fisher learned in school about the significance of making 1,000 origami cranes in Japanese culture, something that stands for things like good luck, longevity and good wishes. So he took up the task that most 12-year olds wouldn’t.
He was looking for some good luck while thinking about his mother, Ray Ellen Fisher, who was undergoing breast cancer treatments.
He was inspired after reading Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes in World Cultures last school year. In the novella, a Japanese girl strives to overcome leukemia by folding 1,000 paper cranes.
Chad and his cousin Max Schnitzer have done about 760 of the cranes, and they plan to keep going. “We were reading about it in [one class] and, in another class, we learned how to fold them,” he said. “I wanted to fold them and give them to anyone, to help people get better."
They plans to share the cranes with others at the Cancer Institute at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, where Chad's mother received treatment.
It takes Chad and Max just a few minutes to do each crane.
Chad's determination with this project really touched his mother, who completed her cancer treatments. “He’s really into it,” she told Patch. “He’s been working at it. He’s always looking for volunteer opportunities. It’s really nice.”
Recently, the boys helped install a display case at the treatment center that will hold the cranes. The cranes will have messages attached written by patients and loved ones.
Editor's Note: Do you have a Whiz Kid in your life? If so, nominate him or her for Patch's Whiz Kid of the Week. Send the following information to Pikesville Patch Editor's e-mail, janet.metzner@patch.com:
- Nominator's Name
- Nominator's e-mail
- Whiz Kid's Name
- Whiz Kid's Age
- Whiz Kid's School/Synagogue/Church/Community Center:
- Whiz Kid's Accomplishment
- Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: (What made him or her successful?)