Here is the list of things I was doing at 12 years old:
- Trying to solve basic equations
- Navigating puberty
Well, that’s about it.
Here is what Alena Wicker is doing at 12 years old:
- Finished high school
- Applied and was accepted at Arizona State University, where she will major in astronomical and planetary science and chemistry.
I think the term you’re looking for is prodigy. If you’re feeling underwhelmed about your own accomplishments, you aren’t alone. I will say that during Women’s History Month, it’s great to see another young women excelling in a world that constantly pushes us down. Alena’s passion for science and engineering grew while she played with Lego sets. “I always dreamed of being an engineer because throughout my life I liked the building,” she said. Her mother echoed that statement, saying that her daughter has always been gifted with science and numbers.
Alena is literally reaching for the stars. Her dream is to work at NASA, and when she graduates at 16, she’ll “have a driver’s license and a job at NASA.”
Alena is in good company, and she’s not the first person to attend ASU as a young adult. In 2012, Javier Urcuyo was 12 when he began taking calculus courses at ASU while also taking high school classes.
Sounds like someone needs to tell NASA to keep a seat open for Alena; she’s coming for it.
Candace Green is a Birmingham, Alabama transplant by way of Washington DC. She enjoys reading, writing, cooking and eating amazing food, and Marvel movies. She is an author and blogger. You can follow her on IG: c_dog93
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