Zendaya, a versatile talent with numerous accolades, gained fame through TV series like Shake It Up! and Euphoria, and her role as M.J. Watson in the Spider-Man films opposite Tom Holland. Surprisingly, the accomplished actress had to repeat kindergarten in her early years, a fact that might surprise her fans. Interestingly, her mother, Claire Stoermer, is a teacher, adding an intriguing layer to this revelation.
As highlighted by Understood.org, several factors contribute to students repeating a grade in the United States, with poor academic performance being a prominent one. Kindergarten serves as the fundamental building block for a student’s educational journey, and Zendaya’s mother, Claire Stoermer, likely aimed to provide her daughter with a strong foundation by having her repeat the grade, ensuring she had a solid start.
Zendaya Was An Introvert As A Child
Zendaya’s decision to repeat a year of kindergarten was motivated by a desire to enhance her social skills, as revealed by her mother, Claire Stoermer. In an interview with Vogue, Stoermer shared that Zendaya used to remain quiet and reserved while sitting in the circle with her peers.
Speaking with GQ, Zendaya opened up about the impact of her shyness on her career, sharing her thoughts on the matter.
“In this industry, I had to learn how to do small talk and stuff, because I guess I would kind of come off cold to people because I didn’t really know how to start conversation. I remember my stylist was like, ‘You come off kind of cold. People think you’re mean because you don’t talk,’ when really I just was too nervous.”
Likewise, in an interview with Us Weekly, Bella Thorne, Zendaya’s former Disney Channel co-star, revealed that their friendship didn’t start off strong during their time on Shake It Up! due to the competitive environment they were placed in.
Zendaya Credits Her Mother’s Educator Skills
Despite the challenges she faced in overcoming her nervousness, which even led to the decision of repeating kindergarten, Zendaya holds her mother’s teaching methods in high regard.
“Growing up, I watched my mom teach in the heart of Oakland, California, at inner-city schools that were always underfunded. My mom went above and beyond, working constantly to open her students’ eyes to an education that could lift them far beyond their current circumstances.”
Back in 2018, Zendaya and Stoermer made a visit to the elementary school in Oakland where Stoermer had been a teacher for two decades, as reported by ABC7 News. During their visit, the actress actively participated in hands-on science and technology activities, collaborating with telecommunications giant Verizon and the nonprofit organization Project Lead the Way.
Source: Nicki Swift
