Student of the week:  Amber Li

At 9 years old, Forest Elementary School third-grader Amber Li is an “exceptional student” said her teacher, Donna Davis.

She’s also a violin player, an all-around happy, helpful girl, and a “very good big sister,” said her mother Xia Zhong.

Now, she can add national student winner to that list.

Recently, Amber participated in three Continental Math League meets. She was one of only two students in the state to answer every question correctly.

“She’s very self-motivated,” Davis said. “She wants to do well; She goes above and beyond.”

And since she often finishes up her classwork before other students, she regularly helps explain the material to her classmates, Davis said.

“She is just so generous with her time,” Davis said. “Anytime you can teach someone else, you really have a thorough understanding of what you’re learning.”

Amber, who participated in the math league through her school’s talented and gifted program, said that the math questions were based on logic.

“You need to really think about it,” she said.

She likes all subjects at school, she said, “probably math the most, though.”

“It comes pretty easily. If I know it, I just get it.”

Zhong said her daughter “loves learning.”

“Whenever there’s no school, she feels bored at home,” Zhong said.

So to fill her free time, Amber has been playing violin for more than two years. She practices most days for about 45 minutes, and also performs in recitals.

“She likes singing; she likes drawing,” Zhong said. “She likes reading very much. I think she finished all seven ‘Harry Potter’ books.”

Amber also enjoys playing with her 4-year-old sister, Zhong said.

“We are very proud of her,” she said.