Autum Ashante, a 13-year-old from the Bronx, N.Y., will be starting her freshman year at the University of Connecticut this fall at the age of 13.
AOL Black Voices reports that Autum speaks three languages (Arabic, Swahili and Spanish) in addition to English, is an accomplished performer at various of spoken-word venues around the country and scored 149 on an IQ test.
Her father, Ben Ashante, recognized Autum's talents early on and opted for homeschooling. Having retired early, he was able to dedicate himself to his daughter's education full time, enlisting the help of local retired teachers to supplement her curriculum.
Mr. Ashante said in a recent statement to the Daily News that he wants his child to be a role model for others, especially black and Latino young people. "What she's doing is groundbreaking, but this is not about vanity," he said. "It's about setting the tone for other black and Latino children who will come behind her. They're always being told they are underachievers. We want to show this can be done."
In our opinion, Autum's not the only one who's a role model in this family. Congrats to her parents for their commitment to allowing her to fulfill her potential, and for having a vision that's even broader than her individual success.
Read more at AOL Black Voices.
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