The Report:
Although he’s only 14, Moshe Kai Cavalin has two Associate of Arts degrees from East Los Angeles Community College (ELAC) and stands ready to graduate from UCLA this year. He entered college at the age of eight and graduated from ELAC with a 4.0 grade point average. A modest pre-teen, he dislikes being called a genius. Entering college at such a young age naturally causes people to ask him this question often, but he says that “people need to know you don’t really need to be a genius. You just have to work hard and you can accomplish anything.”
He limits his TV each week and is extremely dedicated to his studies. He doesn’t completely lock himself in a room for hours with no entertainment, however. In his book, “We Can Do,” he describes his love of Jackie Chan movies, scuba diving, soccer, and martial arts. He advises others to be focused and not jump into any task half-heartedly.
The Breakdown:
No matter how you look at it, the idea that a kid can go to college at such a young age and have extreme success is a pretty rare event. If going directly from training wheels and elementary school lunches to a college classroom was easy, many more children might be able to do it. Although he isn’t pleased with the idea of being called a genius, there is an obvious advantage to having a predisposition to intelligence when it comes to academic success.
All natural talent aside, however, the kid raises an awesome point. If you work really hard and set goals for yourself, there’s no limit to what you can achieve. Even little changes in your academic routine can have a large impact in your overall success. Think about improving your study habits and having a positive attitude like the young man in the article!
You Decide:
Do you think the boy is a genius, or just a hard worker? Do you think that hard work can literally get you wherever you want to go as long as you stay dedicated for enough time? Share your opinions in the comment box below!