Live your dream; DJ Switch urges youngsters

Miss Tandoh, known in showbiz as DJ Switch, noted that her skills on the turntable at this year’s Goalkeepers event in New York had shown that given the right platform and support, Ghanaian children would be able to excel in the fields that they possess talents.

She, therefore, urged youngsters to live their dreams and asked parents to support them in areas that they have talents so that they would be able to excel.

The 2018 Goalkeepers event took place on September 25 and 26, as world leaders gathered for the 73rd United Nations General Assembly.
 
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation started the Goalkeepers event to bring leaders from around the world to forge new partnerships for development.

Miss Tandoh, 10, a Junior High School (JHS) Form one student of the Talented Royals International School at Weija in Accra, told the Junior Graphic on her return from the US that she was humbled by meeting world leaders including the French President, Emmanuel Macron and other great personalities.

She said it was amazing to be in the company of world leaders performing at her best and promised to do more if given the opportunity.

She said she got her name, DJ Switch because of her ability to ‘switch’ the mood of people to make them happy while on the turntable through  the mix of songs that she played.  

Miss Tandoh said before she participated in the Talented Kids Programme which was organised by TV3 last year, she was pursuing poetry and had to become a DJ after her mother, Mrs Lilian Oduro Mensah Tandoh suggested that she did something unique when she was going to compete in the programme.

“I learnt how to be a deejay within five days at my parents’ hometown at Suaman Dadieso in the Western Region. My mother encouraged me and I also prayed for inspiration from God to make me good,” she said.

Following her exploits at the Talented Kids programme which she won last year, DJ Switch said she received invitations to perform at various events.

Little Erica Tandoh who started schooling at the Ideas Junior College in the Western Region, thanked her parents for their assistance and urged parents to give their children the needed assistance in fields they have chosen in order to excel.

“My parents have bought me a turntable and that is what I use to practice. I am very grateful to them for that,” she added.  
 
Asked how she was able to combine playing music with academic work, she said, she had apportioned her time in such a way that she was able to combine the two.

The Principal of the Talented Royals International School, Mr Newton Andoh, said the school was proud of Miss Tandoh adding, the school, apart from academic activities, offered pupils the platform to discover their hidden talents.

Upon her return to Ghana, TV3, which gave Erica the platform to showcase her talent put DJ Switch on the company’s Wall of Fame.

Miss Tandoh is currently managed by her parents.

She said in spite of being a DJ, she is still pursuing her dream to become a doctor and, therefore, is studying seriously.

Little Erica was promoted ahead of her class — from Class Three to Class Five while in primary school.