17-Year-Old Nigerian Graduates US High School and College at the same time

Adrian Ottah, a 17-year-old African American student from Newark, New Jersey, has accomplished an extraordinary feat by graduating with both a high school diploma and a college degree in the same year. This impressive achievement is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and the support of his community and family.

Adrian attends University High School in Newark, where a unique program allows a select group of students to take college-level courses taught by professors. This opportunity enabled him to earn 60 college credits, putting him on track to potentially earn a bachelor’s degree by the age of 19.

Adrian’s motivation stems from his Nigerian immigrant parents, who moved to the United States seeking better opportunities. “My true motivation was my parents, my immigrant parents,” Adrian shared. “I know they didn’t have the opportunity to do this, so when I had the opportunity, I just took it and ran with it.”

Balancing high school and college coursework was challenging. Adrian often stayed late after school to complete his college assignments, juggling his responsibilities with remarkable success. Despite the rigorous schedule, he maintained over a 3.0 GPA in his college classes and a 3.5 GPA in high school.

His mother, Miriam Watson, expressed immense pride in her son’s accomplishments. “It’s amazing, I’m out of words – I’m so proud of him,” she said. Reflecting on their journey, she added, “For greener pastures. I heard America you could live your dream, I said OK, let me go see that dream.”

Adrian’s story is not only about personal achievement but also about honoring his parents’ sacrifices and changing the trajectory of his family in a single generation. His success exemplifies the opportunities that can arise from dedication and the support of a loving community.

Looking ahead, Adrian is excited about continuing his education and leveraging his early start to make a significant impact. With the college credits he has already earned, he is poised to graduate with a bachelor’s degree by the time he is 19.

Adrian’s journey serves as an inspiration to other students, demonstrating the power of perseverance and the importance of seizing every opportunity. His story is a powerful reminder of the impact that dedication, family support, and a strong community can have on achieving remarkable goals.

In 2020, Dr. Jenelle Rouse made history by becoming the first known Black Deaf person in Canada to earn a Ph.D. She achieved this remarkable milestone by obtaining her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Western Ontario.

Dr. Rouse’s academic journey began with her completion of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher Education Program at York University in 2008. She furthered her education by earning a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics in Education from the University of Western Ontario in 2016, and ultimately, her Ph.D. in 2020.

Reflecting on her motivation, Dr. Rouse often cites her immigrant parents’ sacrifices as a significant driving force behind her accomplishments. “My true motivation was my parents, my immigrant parents,” she shared. “I know they didn’t have the opportunity to do this, so when I had the opportunity, I just took it and ran with it.”

For over a decade, Dr. Rouse has dedicated herself to education, working as a teacher at a bilingual school for the deaf in Ontario. Her commitment to her students extends beyond the classroom as she advocates passionately for the acquisition of American Sign Language (ASL) by every deaf child. She believes that having a solid foundation in sign language is crucial for their development and success.

In addition to her work in education, Dr. Rouse is also an accomplished applied linguistics researcher and a body-movement dance artist. She uses contemporary dance to tell stories, combining her linguistic expertise with her artistic talents to create powerful performances. Her short dance film, “Perceptions,” released in 2015, is one of several projects through which she has showcased her unique approach to storytelling. Read more about Jenelle here.

Back To Top