Curtis Lawrence III is not your average teenager. He is a gifted scholar who has achieved remarkable feats at a very young age. He graduated from high school at 14, enrolled in college at 16, and got accepted to 14 prestigious universities, including several Ivy League schools. He also won more than $1.4 million in scholarships and is set to become a computer scientist.
How did he do it?
Curtis was born with a passion for learning and a curiosity for the world. He started reading at the age of two and took his first SAT test at 10. He excelled in math and science and developed an interest in biology and computer science.
He attended the School Without Walls High School in Washington, D.C., where he took advantage of the Early College Program that allowed him to take college-level courses at George Washington University (GWU) while still in high school. He earned an associate degree from GWU in May 2022, making him the youngest graduate in the university’s history.
He also applied to 14 universities across the country and received acceptance letters from all of them. Some of the schools that offered him admission were Harvard, Yale, Howard, Morehouse, Hampton, North Carolina A&T, University of California Berkeley, and University of Chicago.
He chose to attend Florida A&M University (FAMU), a historically black university in Tallahassee, Florida, where he received a full scholarship and a spot in the Honors Program. He enrolled in FAMU in August 2022 as a junior majoring in biology and computer science.
What are his goals and aspirations?
Curtis has a clear vision of what he wants to achieve in life. He wants to use his skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on society and humanity. He hopes to become a computer scientist who can create innovative solutions for health care, education, and environmental issues.
He also wants to inspire other young people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue their dreams and passions. He believes that education is the key to success and empowerment. He says that his parents, who are both educators, have been his biggest role models and supporters.
He is grateful for the opportunities and experiences that he has had so far and looks forward to the challenges and adventures that lie ahead. He says that he enjoys learning new things every day and that he is always ready for the next level.
Lawrence’s story has also inspired many people on social media, who congratulated him on his accomplishments and wished him success in his college journey. Some of the messages are:
“Congratulations Curtis Lawrence III! You are an inspiration to many young people who aspire to achieve academic excellence. FAMU is lucky to have you!” – @FAMU_1887
“Wow! What an amazing young man! Curtis Lawrence III, you have made your family and community proud. I’m sure you will do great things at FAMU and beyond!” – @HBCUBuzz
“Curtis Lawrence III is a genius! He graduated from high school and college at 16, got accepted to 14 top universities, and chose FAMU over Harvard and Yale. He is living proof that Black excellence is real!” – @TheRoot
Meet Taida Drucilla Mapara, the 14-year-old medical student from Zimbabwe.
Taida Drucilla Mapara is a Zimbabwean prodigy who made headlines in 2020 after she scored 15 points in the June A’ Level Cambridge examinations at the age of 14. She is currently studying medicine at the University of Malawi, with the ambition of becoming a cardiologist.
Taida’s educational journey is remarkable and inspiring. She completed her primary and secondary school in eight years, instead of the usual 13 years. She skipped several grades due to her exceptional intelligence and academic performance. She was home-schooled for some periods as her parents struggled to send her to school. She also moved to Ghana with her family for a while, where she continued to excel in her studies.
Taida is the first-born child in a family of three girls. Her father is Ernest, an engineer, and her mother is Debra, a primary school teacher. She has two siblings; Zoey and Chloe who are her twin sisters.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Taida said she was passionate about medicine and wanted to help people with heart problems. She said:
“I have always wanted to be a doctor since I was young. I want to specialise in cardiology because I have seen many people suffering from heart diseases and I want to help them.”
She also said she was grateful for the support and encouragement she received from her parents, teachers and friends. She said: Click here to continue reading about the genius Taida Mapara.
