The youngest scholar to graduate from Crafton Hills College is set to take the stage.
With two associate degrees at the age of ten, Alisa Perales will become the youngest graduate at the college in Yucaipa, California.
The San Bernardino genius youngster, who will get degrees in mathematics and many disciplines, is expected to graduate with a GPA “close” to 4.0, according to California Community Colleges.
What was the key to her success? All she does is enjoy it.
“It’s very fun to me — almost as fun as playing outside or riding a bike or whatever,” Alisa stated. “I just enjoy learning.”
With the assistance of an inheritance that enabled him to remain at home, Alisa’s father, Rafael Perales, informed the station that she started homeschooling at the age of one.
Alisa was already reading novels and doing algebra while most five-year-olds were still learning their ABCs and 1-2-3s.
“We were working from 8 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon, and we did that six days a week,” Perales stated. “It was a lot of work.”
When Alisa was eight years old, she started attending Crafton Hills. When Perales dropped her off at school, her classmates frequently thought he was the student bringing his child, which perplexed them.
Alisa faced challenges during the two years she worked on her degrees, particularly in the social sphere.
“We’ve had some challenges finding friends, because it’s not like she can go to school and play with her friends like an average 10-year-old,” Perales stated. “We’ve had to go out of our way and bike the neighborhood and find other kids to play with.”
Despite being half the age of the majority of her friends, Alisa persevered through her college experience.
“Her young age doesn’t stop her,” Sandra Ruiz, a professor at Crafton Hills College stated. “She was always curious to learn, to explore new things.”
Following the completion of her high school education, Alisa intends to enroll in a top institution in order to earn a degree in computer science.
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“I’m going to plan on transferring to, hopefully, Stanford,” Alisa stated. “I’ve applied there a couple months ago, and I’m awaiting a response.”
Alisa may begin her college career at the age of ten, according to Perales, but she never imagined that she would be graduating at this point in time.
“She’s only getting started,” he stated.
