At an age where kids are still trying to learn their multiplication tables, a 9-year-old from Pennsylvania is in college.
David Balogun has already graduated high school.
He was a student at Reach Cyber Charter School, entering the online school in third grade.
The charter school has an accelerated program that allows students to work at their own pace, year-round.
“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,” David told WPMT.
“I wanted to do it because I had the ability to do it. So why not use those abilities for the greater good?” David added.
He told WGAL that the school supported his effort.
“They didn’t bog me down. They also advocated for me, saying, ‘He can do this. He can do that,’” David said.
David is the youngest student to graduate from Reach Cyber Charter School, “Good Morning America” reported.
This isn’t the first milestone David has reached. He was awarded the 2022 Distinguished Student Award from the Pennsylvania Associated of Gifted Education and was granted membership to Mensa International.
David is technically done with high school, but that’s not keeping him from learning.
He’s already taking college-level classes, completing a semester at Bucks County Community College, WGAL reported. He’s considering pursuing a career in engineering, chemistry or software development. He told WGAL he’s thinking about becoming an astrophysicist, studying black holes and supernovas.
But his parents are investigating what universities would be a match to David’s abilities while considering his young age.
“Am I going to throw my 9-year-old into Harvard while I’m living in PA? No,” Henry Balogun, David’s father, told WGAL.
David also wants to inspire others to take the fast track in education.
“I hope I can use this opportunity to show that I’m not the only one who can do this,” David told WPMT.
In addition to his education, David is also active in sports — working on his black belt in martial arts — and plays piano, WGAL reported.
