Nine-year-old David from Pennsylvania, who loves science and computer programming, has become the youngest high school graduate ever, and he’s already started racking up some credits toward his college degree.
David Balogun recently earned a diploma from Reach Cyber Charter School in his state capital, Harrisburg — after taking classes remotely from his family’s home in the Philadelphia suburb of Bensalem, local TV station WGAL reported Saturday.
The achievement makes David one of the youngest children to ever graduate from high school, according to a list compiled by the History and Culture website.
The only person younger than David on that list is Michael Kearney, who still holds the Guinness World Record for youngest high school graduate, which he set in 1990 at age 6.
David would top 11-year-old Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow when he graduated high school on that list.
Joining WGAL, he said he already knows what it takes to make a career after completing his studies.
“I want to be an astrophysicist, and I want to study black holes and supernovas.”
Both David’s parents are graduates and they spoke about this,
“I had to get outside of the box.” David’s mother, Ronya, said to the outlet.
“Playing pillow fights when you’re not supposed to, throwing the balls in the house. He’s a nine-year-old with a brain that has the capacity to understand and comprehend a lot of concepts beyond his years and sometimes beyond my understanding.”
Little David further addressed the WGAL and said of his teachers,
“They didn’t bog me down. They … advocated for me, saying, ‘He can do this. He can do that.”
One instructor said,
“We’re just proud that we [were] able to individualize his instruction.”
Cody Durr, David’s science teacher, said,
“David was an inspirational kid, definitely one who changes the way you think about teaching.”
David, a member of the Mensa High IQ Club, has spent one semester at Bucks State Community College after graduating from the REACH Charter. In addition, he pursues a black belt in martial arts and is a tomboy who enjoys other sports and playing the piano.
“Am I going to throw my nine-year-old into Harvard while I’m living in [Pennsylvania]?” David’s father, Henry, said of the family’s college search.“No.”
Information: (The Guardian)