A young prodigy from California is on track to achieve what few could imagine: earning a college degree at just 10 years old. “I just enjoy learning,” said Alisa Perales. “There’s so many interesting things out there.”
Alisa, a San Bernardino native, began reading at the age of 2 and was already solving algebra problems by 5. She enrolled in Crafton Hills College, a community college located in Yucaipa, California, when she was only 8, according to a report by ABC7 WWSB.
“It’s very fun to me,” Alisa explained. “It’s almost as fun as playing outside or riding a bike or doing whatever. I just enjoy learning. There’s so many interesting things out there.”
Now, just weeks away from turning 11, Alisa is preparing to graduate from Crafton Hills College in May. She is set to receive two associate degrees—one in mathematics and another in multiple sciences—while maintaining a near-perfect GPA, as reported by the Inland Empire Community News (IECN).
According to IECN, she could have walked away with two additional degrees in physics and computer science had she stayed one more semester. But Alisa is now looking ahead, waiting to hear back from Stanford University.
She credits much of her academic drive to her father, Rafael Perales. “I credit my dad for pushing me to do well in school and try my best to work hard,” she told IECN.
Rafael, who began introducing Alisa to more advanced learning concepts around her first birthday, reflected on her journey. “She has been a little different her whole life, but I have always taught her that there’s nothing out there that you’re not capable of understanding.”
Before her first day of college, Rafael spoke to Alisa about the fact that she would be studying alongside much older students. “She didn’t seem intimidated by that,” he said. “She seemed to fit right in. So I just followed my daughter’s lead.”
“I did not make her adhere to a rigorous schedule I had set out for her,” Rafael added. “I responded to what she was interested in and helped feed that interest and fueled that fire, and her interest in school remained strong.”
Looking ahead, Alisa has her sights set on the future of technology. She hopes to work in artificial intelligence—either by joining a major tech company or by building a new venture from the ground up, possibly alongside her dad.
{Matzav.com}