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pickleer t1_j7bvpdb wrote

Good job, kiddo! Don't burn out quick, please, we need you.

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QuicklyThisWay OP t1_j7bzo7h wrote

“I want to be an astrophysicist, and I want to study black holes and supernovas.”

gif

Maybe he is the chosen one to invent a hyperdrive for interstellar travel.

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ZBottPrime t1_j7enm3i wrote

Don't worry, I think his space ship will know which way to go.

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pickleer t1_j7gg1jh wrote

Well, I hope not to Mars, that's a fools errand for now...

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brchelmo t1_j7dkbh8 wrote

I have been seeing news like this for years and never once have I ever heard of these geniuses again. It seems they roll through academia, get some hole-in-the-wall research gig and then fade into obscurity.

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SocraticIgnoramus t1_j7dxrh7 wrote

To be fair that’s probably what a lot of them want. Savant level geniuses tend not to love attention.

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Healbite t1_j7ebqd7 wrote

Had a teacher who was a savant, went to college for physics at 12. He teaches for fun at a local college because all his research and patents are his paycheck.

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HaikuBotStalksMe t1_j7ed5xd wrote

Yeah, I feel that. I'm not a genius whatsoever, so don't assume that's what I'm getting at. But, like, I feel most content as a software engineer when I'm teaching people how to program vs actually programming.

I guess once I get good enough, I can become a mentor to co-workers.

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dovemans t1_j7g8vq3 wrote

Maybe you're expecting a little too much from them? They might be having good breakthroughs in their field but that might not interest you so it doesn't come up on your radar.

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Goseki1 t1_j7dkvvt wrote

Why do kids like this get rushed through school? Surely they miss out on so much social learning and also have all the added pressure of feeling like they have to perform highly all the time? Why not just let them go through school at a normal pace? I don't get it.

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awssjay t1_j7e9tfh wrote

Boredom from the student themselves in classes. As well as difficulty fitting in with classmates that can't keep up with them even in conversation. Most of the times they don't even know that the other person doesn't understand what they understand so quickly. They definitely will lack social skills without exposure in other places though.

In addition, it doesn't always feel like an external pressure that they need to perform highly. Its more internalized that they want to learn the next thing and master it.

Source: I was rushed through school, but everyone's situation will be different.

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spoilingattack t1_j7eqk2g wrote

I assume you’re an adult? How would you feel about repeating Kindergarten?

I understand the “what about socialization” motive. The problem is this kid is so crazy smart, there’s zero chance he’d be able to relate to his peers. He will face a lifetime of difficulty because of his great intelligence. This is his burden. Holding him back won’t solve the “socialization” issue.

It’ll actually make it worse. Besides his parents have him karate and other activities that allow him to get some socializing.

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janellthegreat t1_j7etw7x wrote

Can you imagine being fully able to manage high school math, yet stuck in a class of other 9 year olds still memorizing times tables? Yeah, recess is great fun, and lunch is on, but the rest?

Ideally, an accelerated student will be getting his social needs filled through sports, clubs, and other pursuits outside of school.

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ZBottPrime t1_j7ensfb wrote

If he's good enough to clear all high school requirements by nine, I don't think he'll get anything positive out of the experience of staying in school. I'd hope he could find a cohort of other like minded people his age and skill level so he's not feeling isolated as he grows up.

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StealthTai t1_j7esm3z wrote

If you try to force a kid to stay at the given pace they won't be challenged and just fizzle out in most cases. Most genius tier kids that didn't just give up by graduation just never learn how to properly apply effort and make the struggles much harder with whatever comes next and where your worries about having to perform highly all the time actually fits and can and will crush people. Ideally the parents of the kids will be able to still help him socialize outside of the classroom as well to help them develop those skills too, no matter what approach you take a kid will miss out on something. there's an endless amount of knowledge that can be pursued no matter how quick they absorb it, but as far as social development it just means that theirs will be unique, just like everyone's

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Overthetrees8 t1_j7f086o wrote

Generally speaking you're hitting the nail on the head most people just fail to understand that school isn't about learning (mostly).

It's about social integration, social conformity, learning to do things you don't like, and learning to take orders from authority.

From what I've seen in cases like this the kids usually end up suffering long term because they fail to devolpe proper social skills. Because we learn social skills from our peers.

No one in college is going to consider this young man a peer.

It's honestly usually pretty sad.

One of the most important and hardest lessons to learn in life is that it doesn't matter if you're right it only matters if people are willing to listen.

No one is going to listen to a 9 year old the graduated highschool even if he's right. What do you think that does to someone? Nothing good that's for sure.

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Goseki1 t1_j7f0ske wrote

That's all i can think too. Like i bet he's found it fun to do, and hos parents are proud of him. But realistically, is he going to be happy to leave all his friend's behind? When will he eventually get to pursue a romantic relationship (if wanted) with a girl or boy his own age?

I remember watching a documentary a while ago about gofted kids and the vast majority of them smashed through high school on their larents suggestion and then absolutely burnt out after years if studying at a level appropriate to their capabilities. I dunno, i guess it's a weird line to try and navigate, but i hope the dude doesn't burn out and end up working a shitty job be cause of it

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Overthetrees8 t1_j7f1ble wrote

It's usually what happened because what people fail to constantly realize is that the thing most important in our lives are the connections we share with others. Generally those connections are the ones we create in school.

They have pretty much eliminated that possibility.

Although generally speaking a lot of people this smart are usually on the spectrum as well.

So sometimes they just don't care about human connections.

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Moosetappropriate t1_j7gaujx wrote

What I learned from school socially was to keep my head down and not show my intelligence. I was smart, not this level but top few percentages. And suffered for it.

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Goseki1 t1_j7gc5ld wrote

That's a fair point too really. I just guess there should be a middle grounds? Like if this kid is rushed through high school and college and gets to the end of it with degree's and things, like where was his opportunity to be a kid and unstressed and free to have more fun?

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PMmeYourGiantDildo t1_j7g48s2 wrote

Real answer? Their parents push them through. Because the work of high school isn't that hard, it's just paced so that the average idiot can complete it.

I worked with a guy who was so proud that his four children all graduated from high school at 16.

Except he put them into programs so they could graduate early. It's not like they were recognized as geniuses, or anything; they just did summer school.

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stusthrowaway t1_j7cek1k wrote

It's all fun and games until someone says bazinga.

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eitzhaimHi t1_j7ecua4 wrote

Good for him, learning at his own pace and also pursuing martial arts and other activites where he can have friends his own age. He looks like someone on a good path!

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HermioneMarch t1_j7dvwg8 wrote

But why? It’s awesome he is smart but what will he do post college? Get a full time career at 13? He needs to play with kids his own age. He needs to have fun. Not uplifting to me. I worry for him.

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TheToasterIsAMimic t1_j7f3srf wrote

Kids this brilliant will go straight through to PhD - and more than one, especially if, like you said, he's thirteen the first time through. And if he's that smart, he'll end up in research which doesn't necessarily have an age limit (which, for a kid like this, will probably just be fun).

He plays with kids in martial arts, and I imagine his parents, who also have high-level degrees, are very aware of the difficult balance of letting him learn everything he wants to, developing important social skills, AND taking time off for fun. Look at the smile on his face - he's not being pushed. Did you read how Mom had to learn how to teach him differently? He blew her mind, too. Kids that smart are just plain going to have a certain level of social ineptitude. A friend of mine stayed in high school while taking college classes, but it didn't help his social skills at all.

I love that you care so much about a complete stranger. Never lose that.

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Potential_Eye_8919 t1_j7cpg19 wrote

I'm proud of you, little star. Please know that there are MANY people out there who will also advocate for you and support your endeavors.

Stay. Safe.

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flutterdash2 t1_j7e15zd wrote

I hope his parents are taking good care of him, and not pushing him too much to the point of burnout.

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Fathletic231 t1_j7dnro3 wrote

Good for him, but why is this uplifting

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AliceHart7 t1_j7d59lx wrote

What an amazing young man! I hope he achieves everything he sets his mind to and that he stays happy and healthy well into adulthood.

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WILSON_CK t1_j7ed83x wrote

TIL Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. Congrats, kid, you definitely have a few more eggs in the basket than I do.

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non-number-name t1_j7f0u64 wrote

Academic achievement is definitely worth celebrating for sure.

However, how much social development was bypassed in this diploma speed-run?

This kid’s grind is respectful, but it’s not all about the result; the process is important.

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Grim-Reality t1_j7f1lrr wrote

This isn’t uplifting, it’s tragic. It’s sad, this kid isn’t going to fit in college. How can a minor go to college and have the full college experience? He’s immature, at 9, that’s just an absolute failure of the education system. Graduating high-school should come with an age requirement. Or more importantly entering college should have an age requirement.

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BRich1990 t1_j7fleb5 wrote

I always feel bad for kids like this. The school experience and growing up with a good set of friends can be such a rewarding experience, but with kids like this, they rush through the process and don't get to even, remotely, enjoy the social experience involved with making friends, dating, and sort of finding out who you are. The whole experience is so much more than just passing the tests.

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Sarisongsalt t1_j7g6jl4 wrote

I was a gifted kid who was ruthlessly bullied by my peers into refusing to attend achool and giving up any dreams of higher education alltogether. School socialization is a joke

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BRich1990 t1_j7hfcqm wrote

I'm sorry to hear that your, specific, experience was bad, but I'm sure you realize that just because YOUR experience was bad does not mean that the experience is bad for everyone else too.

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Varcaus t1_j7gjuyf wrote

A lifetime of social isolation isnt exactly uplifting

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sanjsrik t1_j7bptdj wrote

Well, you KNOW that story could NOT have taken place in texasss or florida.

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Gankgasm t1_j7cgds7 wrote

Why is that?

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sanjsrik t1_j7cnohs wrote

Education has to be important for a story like this to happen. Not whatever wild crazy ass shit they're doing for the sake of transvestite school drag shows that exist in some fairy land or banning books because white folks are scared history might actually be taught.

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Gankgasm t1_j7csa5t wrote

You seem like you just want to vent but just so you know the child took remote classes online. The same school that this boy went to offers the same coursework in Texas and Florida.

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ThiccSkipper13 t1_j7eiier wrote

fuck me,oh how the media has brainwashed some people into thinking a particular way. its sad to see. dont believe headlines kids and never trust any "news outlet"

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