But Rico is far from average: the teenager just graduated with four associate degrees – and he did it in just two years.
Rico graduated from Fullerton College in California last weekend, making him the youngest student to achieve that feat in the school’s 107-year history, the college confirmed to CNN.
Participating in a study is quite difficult, but the addressed child has a degree in history, human expression, social behavior and social sciences, while maintaining a GPA 4.0, he said.
“I love learning new things,” Rico told CNN. “I love to know more about the world and all the different things we could study.”
The community college has approximately 21,000 other students from various backgrounds and walks of life. But Fullerton College president Greg Schulz said Rico can’t help but lean out of the crowd.
“It is not typical for such a young student to take lessons, so Jack is well known on the Fullerton College campus,” Schulz told CNN. “Jack is wise beyond his years and I’m so glad he found a home and place to excel at Fullerton College.”
If you’re dying to know the secret method of achieving the young wonder’s results, Rico said there isn’t one. Just good management of the old days and listening to your instructors, he said.
Gifted since his childhood days
Rico’s mother, Ru Andrade, said she knew that her son had been special ever since he was a young boy. When Rico was about to turn four, he asked him what he wanted for his birthday.
While other kids his age may have asked for toys or a trip to Disneyland, Rico said he wanted to see the White House.
“I told him it was a really big trip for a three year old boy,” said Andrade. “I’m kidding, I said, ‘If you can memorize all the presidents, I’ll get you.'”
A week later, Rico came to his mother and surprised her with his answer.
“He said: ‘I already knew the presidents, but I memorized all the vice presidents so we could go,” Andrade recalled. “So that was when I heard, ‘Oh, you’re already smarter than I am.'”
Rico had fulfilled his birthday wish.
Next stop: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
“I was a little sad and disappointed because I never had a degree,” said Rico.
So instead, his family and friends will help him celebrate by holding a drive-by graduation parade on Wednesday.
Rico’s next step is to continue studying history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he received a full pass.
While he may be a couple of steps ahead of his age group, he said he is still only a child.
“I’m 13 at the moment, so I haven’t really understood everything about life,” said Rico, when asked what he wanted to do when he grew up. “I’m still trying to explore my interests and learn what I want to do in life.”
It’s summer for now – and Rico said he would love to go back to his video games.
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