A Pennsylvania 9-year-old was the fete of the his school community for accomplishing the impressive feat of graduating high school.
‘I want to be an astrophysicist, and I want to study black holes and supernovas,’ David Balogun said. Photograph: WGAL-TV
David Balogun of Bucks County, Pennsylvania likes to think of himself as just another kid who enjoys the same activities as his peers, but what separates the Bensalam native is his membership in the high-IQ organization Mensa.
David said he was able to graduate nearly a decade ahead of his peers as a result of his determination and hard work.
“I realized that I [was] able to graduate at the age of ten or nine as long as I put the effort in, and with the help of my mom, dad, and, of course, Reach Cyber Charter School, I was able to graduate,” he said. Reach Cyber is located in the state capital of Harrisburg, but allowed him to complete his lessons online.
David is gifted with a rare intelligence and also came across as both grounded and humbled. When explaining why he wanted to graduate so early, he said he recognized that he had the ability and almost saw it as a waste to not take advantage. He is now the youngest graduate from the charter school in its history.
“I wanted to do it because I had the ability to do it. So why not use those abilities for the greater good?” David continued. He added that he hoped his story could be an inspiration for others. “I hope I can use this opportunity to show that I’m not the only one who can do this,” he said.
His mother admitted to being awed by her child’s academic prowess and ability to grasp difficult concepts.
“He’s a nine-year-old with a brain that just has the capacity to understand and comprehend a lot of concepts that’s beyond his years, and sometimes, beyond my understanding,” she said of her son.
David also spoke highly of his teachers, who he said advocated for him and encouraged him to continue progressing through his coursework. David indicated he already has plans for what comes next.
“I want to be an astrophysicist, and I want to study black holes and supernova,” the precocious youngster explained during his interview.
THV 11 reported that young David will receive his diploma this upcoming summer along with other high school graduates and has already begun to study college-level courses.
David will receive his official diploma in June with the other graduates and has already begun taking college-level courses and is considering a career in either engineering, chemistry, or software development.
“He’s been extremely curious about knowing things and this has prepared him,” said Henry Balogun, David’s father, told THV 11. “The word proud is not enough at all for that,” David’s mother, Ronya, said.
See the full report from a local affiliate below.
About David’s future pursuits, Breitbart reported:
Astrophysicists use the laws of physics when studying the stars, planets, galaxies, and celestial objects, according to the Swinburne University of Technology.
In addition, the black holes he mentioned are described as areas of space where “gravity pulls so much that even light can not get out,” the NASA website explained.
In addition to being honored with the 2022 Distinguished Student Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Gifted Education, David is also a member of the high-IQ society, Mensa International.
Featured image: Screen shot from embedded YouTube video.
Source: theamericantribune.com
