A 12-year-old boy has graduated from university, earning five distinct degrees and showcasing remarkable academic achievement at a young age.
In a remarkable achievement, a 12-year-old boy from California has graduated from university with not one, but five degrees.
Clovis Hung, who was homeschooled by his mother, has made history as the youngest graduate in Fullerton College’s history.
His accomplishments serve as an inspiring example of what dedication and hard work can achieve at any age.
The mother soon realized her son’s early signs of genius
Clovis’s mother, Song Choi, recognized her son’s extraordinary potential early on.
She describes him as “super inquisitive, mature, diligent, self-disciplined, and highly motivated.”
These traits prompted her to pull him out of traditional school when she realized the conventional system couldn’t satisfy his curiosity.
The boy’s unique journey to achieve five distinct degrees
While many children his age are grappling with the challenges of adolescence and preparing for high school, Clovis was busy hitting the books.
He was inspired to attend Fullerton College after witnessing the achievements of Jack Rico, who graduated with four degrees at just 13 years old.
Clovis not only matched that record but exceeded it by earning five Associate of Arts degrees in various fields, including History, Social Sciences, Social Behavior and Self-Development, Arts and Human Expression, Science, and Mathematics.
Fullerton College offers a special program that allows students to attend college while completing their homeschool curriculum.
Clovis and his mother initially had reservations about how he would balance college life with his studies at home.
However, Clovis adapted quickly, and the results have been extraordinary.
“After that first history class, I found out I could handle it well and instantly fell in love with college life,” Clovis explained.
His passion for learning led him to challenge himself by enrolling in more classes.
Clovis noted that his professors and classmates often ask him how old he is, surprised to see someone so young in a college setting.
“They are curious about my quizzes and exams. However, after a while, I have shown a serious attitude toward my studies; they all believe in my ability and determination to get good grades,” he shared.
Tutors doubted Clovis’s ability to integrate.
Initially, some tutors were skeptical about Clovis’s ability to integrate with older students.
They worried that the college environment might be overwhelming for a child his age.
However, biology professor Kenneth Collins quickly dispelled those concerns.
“At first, I was a little worried about how he would relate to the other students given the age and developmental differences, but those concerns were unfounded,” he said.
“Clovis has been a great mixture of ‘kid’ and college student.
He is mature enough that the other students take him seriously, yet young enough that they look after him like a younger brother and cheer him on.”