by CHERYL HAREWOOD

UNDOUBTEDLY, the first thing you will notice about Jared Matthews when you converse with him is his manner of speech.

As a seven-year-old he speaks fluently and has a reasonably good command of the English language.

Jared has been identified as a young and gifted child for a number of reasons. Firstly, he's a dancer who takes dance classes at St David's Primary School, Christ Church, where he is a Class 1 pupil.

Secondly, he plays soccer with the Barbados Soccer Academy on Saturday mornings. He is also a member of the Barbados Cub Scouts and the James Street Methodist Church Sunday School Department.

Added to these various roles, he sings in his school's choir, and he plays the piano.

As a student, Jared is viewed as a role model. He has been described by his teachers as "a disciplined, focused, nice, young, gentlemen", and he has also been cited at assembly as a student others can emulate.

To show just how disciplined he is, Jared makes it a point when he arrives home each evening to complete his homework assignments before he does anything else.

"He's very focussed and he comes first in English and in class," says mum Yolande.

"He loves to break down words and use new words in sentences as part of his educational development," she adds.

"In fact, I would say apart from all his other giftings and interests the dominant thing about him is his vocabulary," he says.

According to Jared, however, he is at his happiest singing in the school choir.

"I love singing in the choir the most," he says with a smile.

He enjoys jazz music (his favourite jazz song is Bad Day), but he equally loves The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy, along with other "Bible song", as he puts it.

While he would love to be a member of the church's junior choir, choir rehearsals clash with his piano lessons. However, Jared is just as content singing whenever the opportunity allows and so he sings solos and duets on special occasions.

Interestingly enough, while he admits that he does not always pray morning and night, Yolande says her son is never bashful when it comes to praying publicly at church. In fact, he relishes such opportunities. As a soccer player he admits that his best role is that of defence player.

"I am a good defender, a really good one," he says emphatically.

He has been a member of the Cub Scouts for the past two years and also holds the values of scouting dear to his heart

Jared, whose No. 1 subject is mathematics, has plans of becoming a teacher.

"I like how teachers teach," he says simply.

Like most children his age, this St Philip lad enjoys his share of bacon, chicken and "nuggets". Furthermore, he loves watching television and his favourite show is Sid The Science Kid - a programme that sees children "discovering new things" together with their teachers.

When he has had enough of his activities and hobbies, Jared spends quality time with his mum and his dad Neil, as well as with his five-year-old sister Jade.

"I like to play with Jade. She follows me around because she loves me very much," he neatly attired Jared says with a grin.

Jared definitely has a number of things going for him. He truly may grow up to be one of the finest orators of his day; an excellent singer and dancer; master piano player; and a brilliant soccer defender.

When we look at each of these special gifts they should serve him well in moulding him into the great teacher he so badly wants to become.