If you think graduating from high school is hard, imagine doing it when you are only nine years old. That’s what David Balogun, a boy from Pennsylvania, did this year. He is one of the youngest people in the U.S. to earn a high school diploma, and he has already started taking college courses online. His dream is to become an astrophysicist and study black holes and supernovas.
David’s extraordinary journey began when he was six years old and his parents tested his intellect. They realized that he was gifted and needed more challenging and personalized education than what regular schools could offer. His mother, Ronya Balogun, who has a master’s degree in public health, and his father, Henry Balogun, who has a doctorate in engineering, decided to enroll him in Reach Cyber Charter School, a tuition-free online school based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
At Reach Cyber, David was able to learn at his own pace and take advanced courses in science, math, and computer programming. He also had supportive teachers who encouraged him and helped him achieve his goals. “They didn’t bog me down,” David said.
David graduated from high school in late January 2023, making him one of the youngest known high school graduates in history, according to oldest.org. The only person younger than him on that list is Michael Kearney, who graduated at age six in 1990 and went on to earn two master’s degrees and win more than $1 million on game shows.
After graduating from high school, David enrolled in online classes at Bucks County Community College, where he says he completes a week’s worth of homework in a single day. He holds membership in Mensa, the society for individuals with high IQs. His parents say that raising a child with such an extraordinary intellect is not easy, but they try to balance his academic needs with his social and emotional development. “I had to get outside of the box,” Ronya said.Engaging in pillow fights when it’s least expected, tossing balls indoors – he’s a nine-year-old whose intellect surpasses his age, comprehending concepts that often extend beyond my own understanding.
David’s passion is astrophysics, the branch of physics that deals with the origin, structure, and evolution of the universe and its celestial bodies. He wants to study black holes and supernovas, which are some of the most mysterious and fascinating phenomena in the cosmos. “I want to be an astrophysicist,” he said. “And I want to study black holes and supernovas.”
Black holes represent areas in space where gravity is immensely powerful, preventing anything, including light, from escaping. These cosmic entities originate from the collapse of massive stars as they reach the conclusion of their life cycle. Supernovas, on the other hand, are intense explosions resulting from the depletion of fuel in massive stars, releasing substantial energy and matter into the surrounding space. The study of both black holes and supernovas contributes significantly to our comprehension of the workings and evolution of the universe.
David is not alone in his interest in astrophysics. There are many scientists around the world who are working on unraveling the mysteries of the universe using telescopes, satellites, detectors, and computers. Some of the most famous astrophysicists include Stephen Hawking, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Brian Greene, Lisa Randall, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Kip Thorne, Vera Rubin, and Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
David hopes to join their ranks someday and contribute to the advancement of human knowledge about the universe. He has a long way to go before he achieves his dream, but he is not daunted by the challenge. He is motivated by his curiosity and his love for learning. He is also inspired by his role models, such as Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton.
David is an exceptional boy with an exceptional mind. He has achieved something remarkable at a very young age, but he is not resting on his laurels. He is eager to learn more and explore new horizons. He is a shining example of what human potential can accomplish with dedication, support, and passion.
Elijah Muhammad Jr. is not your average 12-year-old. He is a high school senior, a state champion wrestler, a coding enthusiast, and a college freshman majoring in cybersecurity. He is also making history as the youngest Black college student in the state of Oklahoma, according to several news sources .
Elijah is currently enrolled in three courses at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), where he started his freshman year last month. He is also completing his high school diploma through Prep One Collegiate Academy, a homeschool program run by his father, Elijah Muhammad Sr.
Elijah‘s father told Atlanta Black Star that he noticed his son’s exceptional abilities when he was just 2 years old. “He was very attentive, and there were things I noticed from when he was 2 years old that were just different, and I was like it’s time to cultivate this,” he said .
Elijah’s father also said that his homeschool program differs from traditional public education because it tailors the lessons to the students’ individual learning styles. “We try to expose you to as many different types of learning and different types of learning styles. Some people are hands-on, some people learn by video, audio or reading, there are multiple methods, and I’m saying, why are we being told there’s only one way,” he explained .
Elijah’s academic achievements are even more impressive considering that he scored 17 on the ACT test, beating the average score of 16 for Black high school seniors, according to the National Center for Education Statistics . He has also received a full scholarship from Rust College, a historically Black college in Mississippi . He said he is excited about getting more scholarships in the future. “I’ve witnessed my sister receive numerous scholarships, and I thought, ‘Wow, I look forward to the day when I begin earning my own scholarships,'” he shared with Atlanta Black Star. Read more about Elijah here.
