12-year-old California student ready to start university
In this recent but undated frame from video provided by KOVR-TV, Tanishq Abraham, 12, looks into a microscope in a lab at American River College in Sacramento, Calif., during an interview about his recent graduation from community college and beginning his university education this fall. (KOVR-TV via AP)
In this recent but undated frame from video provided by KOVR-TV, Tanishq Abraham, 12, talks about his recent graduation from community college and beginning his university education this fall, in an interview at American River College in Sacramento, Calif. (KOVR-TV via AP)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. » A 12-year-old Sacramento student who already has three community college degrees and has been accepted to two University of California campuses says he plans on studying biomedical engineering and becoming a doctor and medical researcher by the time he turns 18.
Tanishq Abraham has been accepted to UC Davis and received a regents scholarship to UC Santa Cruz, but he has yet to decide which university he’ll attend, reported Sacramento television station CBS 13 today.
“I think I’ll be 18 when I get my M.D.,” he said.
Tanishq started community college at age 7 and last year he received associate’s degrees from American River College, a community college in Sacramento, in general science; math and physical science; and foreign language studies.
Professors at the college didn’t initially want him in their classes because of his age. But finally a professor agreed to let him attend if his mother, a doctor of veterinary medicine, also took the class. “There were times when I had to explain general relativity and special relativity to my mom,” he said.
Biology professor Marlene Martinez said he was never afraid to ask lot of questions. “In lecture he would always pop up with ‘so, does that mean …’ or ‘what about this?’ ” Martinez said.
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Tanishq, who joined the IQ society Mensa at only 4 years old, has always picked up knowledge quickly, his father, Bijou Abraham, told NBC News.
“We tested him and discovered that he was pretty smart,” he said. “We were surprised when we started giving him advanced stuff and he was picking it up really fast.”
Tanishq says child geniuses are often seen as odd. “When you think of a genius, you think of a mad scientist kind of thing,” he said.
But he pointed out he’s just an ordinary kid who likes learning and microscopes but also playing video games. “I just think learning is fun,” Tanishq said.
10 responses to “12-year-old California student ready to start university”
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Poor kid, missing a childhood. Grew up way too fast!!
Or can help the World sooner than later?
Or destroy the world sooner. Think a lot of these brain nerds end up in a dark room working for government agencies or research labs devising new ways to decimate the world.
I wouldn’t say he’s missing a childhood. He’s just using his differently.
“I just think learning is fun,”
Well said
He already missed it. Learning is fun for him because it comes easy for him as he’s totally different from a “normal” kid.
Was a slow starter and had to repeat 1st grade. Always thought Miss Hussy had crush on me? Been retired now in my 26th year after reaching 65. Been to many foreign places as well as 2 hitches in the US Army during WW II and post.
I was a grad assistant for a professor who had been a child prodigy. He got his PhD very young and had a moderately successful academic career. But he retained a certain immaturity– he had temper tantrums, he was overly sensitive to criticism or remarks by others. He never learned how to drive a car and lacked a lot of practical knowledge. He was a very good classical pianist, but had tantrums if he missed a note. Still he was a very nice guy everyone liked. He was incredibly smart and creative, but he never reached the top tier in anything he pursued– he was happy though.
Community college courses are easy. One summer in college, I went to two community colleges at one time and got a full semester worth of credits.
Brain smart but probably not ready for college in terms of physical and social maturity. Is there a study of how these young prodigies turn out once they reach adulthood? I suspect it’s not a pretty picture.