At Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa, Sandra Ruiz was taken aback when a man and his 8-year-old daughter strolled into her computer science class. Initially assuming the man was the student and his daughter needed a babysitter, Ruiz was shocked to find out the opposite was true. The man, Rafael Perales, left his daughter, Alisa, to begin her second semester of college. Alisa, at only 11 years old, was a standout student with a GPA of 3.8 over 2½ years at the college. She is set to graduate with associate degrees in multiple sciences and mathematics, making her the youngest graduate in the school’s history and one of the youngest in California.
### The Unconventional Education Journey
Perales noticed his daughter’s academic talent early on and decided to give her full-time attention and learning. As a civil lawyer, he quit his practice to become Alisa’s instructor, dedicating eight hours a day, six days a week to studying with her. By the age of 8, Alisa had completed all the coursework required to graduate from high school. Her education was unconventional, with Perales using a mix of YouTube tutorials, educational videos, and traditional tools like flashcards. Despite facing economic challenges, the hard work paid off as Alisa excelled academically.
### Challenges and Achievements
Alisa’s journey to graduation was met with some criticism, with online commentators questioning the end goal of her accelerated education. However, Alisa proved them wrong by excelling not only academically but also socially. Contrary to fears of being unsociable, Alisa made friends easily and enjoyed activities like playing soccer and connecting with peers through online games. Her time at Crafton Hills was a mix of nerves and excitement, but she quickly adapted and felt more comfortable as each semester passed. Despite facing backlash for her accomplishments, Alisa remained focused on her goals and continued to excel in her studies, even participating in programming competitions alongside older students.
Not really sure why some people were so critical of Alisa’s achievements, but maybe it’s just me. I mean, she’s just a kid who loves to learn and explore new things. And hey, she even tried to challenge the voting age laws because she felt she was mature enough to participate in democracy. Although the case was dismissed, it’s clear that Alisa is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. As she prepares for graduation and looks ahead to her future, one thing is certain – Alisa’s determination and passion for learning will continue to set her apart in whatever she chooses to pursue next.