theGrio’s 100: Madu Eneli, teen author, pens middle school success guide

theGRIO'S 100 - Eneli is the self-published author of 'Am I Ready for Middle School?' The book, his first writing endeavor, provides tips, ideas and strategies to help students transition to middle school...

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Who is Madu Eneli?

Madu Eneli, an eighth grader from Texas, is a straight-A student with a bright future ahead of him.

The talented teen has accomplished a number of achievements since he started middle school. Last year, he was selected to attend MSNBC’s Education Nation Summit in New York.

In January 2013, he held his first workshop, Goal Setting for Kids. This month he will be the keynote speaker at an elementary school in Lee’s Summit, Kansas.

Eneli, of Nigerian descent, is not only academically bright but is also a gifted athlete, who plays tennis, football and basketball for his school.

The 13-year-old, who is the eldest of five siblings, attends Union Grove Middle School in Harker Heights, Texas. His father is a medical doctor and his mother is an attorney, author and life coach.

Why is he on theGrio’s 100?

Eneli is the self-published author of Am I Ready for Middle School?  The book, his first writing endeavor, provides tips, ideas and strategies to help students transition to middle school.

The self-help guide offers an abundance of practical advice to encourage students to achieve academic and personal success. It explores topics such as handling a more rigorous workload, seeking academic help and navigating the social aspects of lunch and recess.

The teen was inspired to publish to raise cash to cover his $2,945 tuition as well as travel expenses after being nominated to attend the Middle School Presidential Inauguration Conference in January 2013.

The 64-page book was published in August 2012 and costs $12. Its success helped Eneli attend last month’s Washington D.C conference.

As part of the conference, he witnessed the inauguration of President Barack Obama, whom he first met when Obama was campaigning for his U.S. senate seat in 2004.

What’s next for Eneli?

This year, Eneli has set a goal for his book to be in every elementary and middle school library in the States. He is also looking forward to publishing more books in the future and wants to continue to grow as a motivational speaker.

His goal is to attend Baylor University and earn a degree in Entrepreneurship while playing collegiate football.

Follow Madu Eneli on twitter at @MountainDew3789

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