An 11-year-old California girl has broken the record for youngest student to graduate from Irvine Valley College, just one year after her brother set the record.
FOX 11 Los Angeles cameras had to be called out to document a bit. Athena Elling’s Graduation As she walked across the stage, Last week she was with other students who were taller than her.
After proudly receiving her Associate of Arts and Sciences degree, she jokingly said, “I’m really happy and excited to have broken my brother’s record.”
Her brother, Tycho, also became the youngest student to graduate from the University of Irvine last year at age 11, just six months older than Athena.
According to Elling’s most recent graduate, Tico was “chill” about it.
“I don’t think he minds that much,” Athena said with a smile.
Christina Chow, the mother of the high-achieving siblings, said she never forced her young children to go to college — they just love learning.
“She’s been pestering me to sign up for more classes. She wants another associate’s degree. Two more. I think she wants to do it all. She’s curious,” her smiling mother told the station.
In addition to her studies, Athena has already landed modelling jobs, plays the guitar, sings, dances and has a second degree black belt in Taekwondo.
“I really want to be an actress, or a divorce lawyer. [or] “I have allergies and eczema myself, so I would like to become an allergist,” she told a reporter when asked about her career plans.
Regardless of what she decides, she will always have the confidence and experience of a young college graduate.
