Focused
Margot Bingham is focused on pursuing her dreams while making a positive difference By Carlo Taylor Sr.
For New Pittsburgh Courier
Most people have heard of the biblical 10 commandments-thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal, honor thy mother and thy father and so on. One local teen has added an 11th.
"Staying focused is practically a commandment to me. When you have so many different things going on, it's easy to start a bunch of things and never finish them," says Margot Bingham.
As busy as today's world is to a normal teenager, Margot is a freshman at the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. She sings, studies dance at Point Park College and models. And, she is the reigning National Miss Black Teen.
The 14-year-old also volunteers with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Pittsburgh School for the Blind, Special Olympics and homeless shelters.
Margot says it's rewarding to know just her being there makes someone feel good.
Inspired by the life of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Margot recently wrote and recorded a song title "In My Dreams," a tribute to the slain civil rights leader.
"Without MLK, I truly believe I wouldn't be here today", she said. "His legacy will always live on and I only hope that people will always remember that one man made such a difference."
"I try to bring his words to life in today's world," said Margot, who believes in diversity and equality for everyone.
She performed the song during the King holiday at Carnegie Mellon University's celebration. The song was also played on WAMO-FM.
Margot is involved in so many things that focus is absolutely necessary.
Focused is how most people would define his young lady as she always looks for ways to make a difference in the lives of other despite her busy schedule.
"By the age of 2, Margot would model and dance for us constantly," says her mother, Lynne. "She actually sang before she spoke. Her big brother would speak for her so there was no need. We always found it funny that she could actually carry a note."
Of all the talents Margot has, her mother, Lynne, is the most proud of her daughter's volunteerism. She likes to tell a story about when Margot was 8 and attended her brother's basketball game at the Boys Club in Bridgeville. A boy the same age came in, his face was severely deformed, and he was mute. Many kids whispered, laughed or were scared, but Margot asked him to play. When she realized he couldn't hear, she acted out her request. As she was leaving, he came up to her with tears running down his face. His mother thanked Margot. Here she replied with a thank you instead of saying, "You're welcome." On the way home, Margot asked if she could learn sign language and actually taught herself later that summer.
"My mom and I are very close," says Margot. "She is my best friend and we always have an open line of communication. My mom is my manager, my motivator, my cab driver and my mentor. She's always they're to reassure me that I can do it. My mom is the humorous one."
Margot's father, Craig, is a former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, who came to the United States from Jamaica and hadn't touched a football until his senior year in high school. He graduated from Syracuse University and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Margot says her dad taught her to never quit and always reach for the stars.
Margot attributes much of her success to her parents' work ethic and values, which they have instilled in her.
Her brother, C.J., and 18-year-old senior at Kiski High School, is proud of his sister.
"Margot is an amazing breed of creativity," he says. "She is the perfect example of the saying, 'You can do whatever it is you put your mind to.'"
C.J. describes his sister as "strong, because she knows what she wants and sets her goals right in the beginning. She won't quit 'til she reaches those goals."
