A youngster has graduated from the University of Antwerp in Belgium at age 11, making him the second-youngest university graduate in history.
Laurent Simons, who is from Ostend in Belgium, completed his degree in Physics in a matter of only 1 year – most Belgian degrees take a minimum 3 year to complete. Amazingly, he scored an 85% putting him at the very top of his class.
Laurent could have even received a bachelor's degree earlier from the University of Eindhoven, and received credits at the university, however the institution blocked him from graduating. His father had suggested that Eindhoven University had rejected his son from completing the course because they felt it would reflect badly on the institution if a 10-year-old was capable of completing their program.
Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Laurent Simons (@laurent_simons)
In an interview with Dutch paper De Telegraaf, Laurent spelled out what he wished to do in the future, saying:
"I want to be able to replace as many body parts as possible with mechanical parts. I've mapped out a path to get there. You can see it as a big puzzle. Quantum physics—the study of the smallest particles—is the first piece of the puzzle."
He added:
"Two things are important in such a study: acquiring knowledge and applying that knowledge. To achieve the second, I want to work with the best professors in the world, look inside their brains and find out how they think."
Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Laurent Simons (@laurent_simons)
Laurent's family have always been super-supportive of him and have documented his activities on Instagram and other social-media. This has led to great praise being heaped on Laurent from across the world but also criticism that his parents are exposing him to too much pressure and publicity at such a young age.
Η δημοσίευση κοινοποιήθηκε από το χρήστη Laurent Simons (@laurent_simons)
The youngest ever university graduate was Michael Kearney, who graduated anthropology at the University of South Alabama back in 1994, aged 10.
Laurent will start his Master's degree next year.
[h/t: I heart Intelligence]
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