Even though Athena Elling, 11, is graduating from junior college on Thursday, her degree is nonetheless significant even if her cap and gown are much smaller than those of most of her peers.
Athena graduated on Thursday night from Irvine Valley College in Irvine, California, along with a large group of grads who are mostly between the ages of 19 and 21. She is earning an associate's degree in liberal arts and graduating with cum laude honors.
Before Athena's graduation, Christina Chow, her mother, said in an interview that the community college gave her daughter the freedom to pursue a variety of interests.
"In the past year, she has wanted to be a divorce attorney, an allergist, and an actor," Chow said. "We have tried not to say no to anything she is expressed interest in."
The Elling family has already graduated from Irvine Valley College with a much younger member.
A year ago, at the age of eleven, Tycho Elling, Athena's brother, set a record for the youngest-ever Orange County community college graduate.
Of course, Athena's motivation to defeat her older brother sprang from a little sibling rivalry.
"My brother also graduated with an AA just a couple days before he turned 12 and when he did it, I really also wanted to do that," Elling said.
After speaking with college advisors, the family discovered that completing the liberal arts degree in time to break the previous record was possible.
According to Chow, Tycho is "hyper-focused" while Athena is an outgoing person by nature. Tycho is now a student at the University of California, Irvine.
Outside of college, Athena pursues her studies in acting and dancing. She has a second-degree black belt in taekwondo.
"We have been lucky that she has so many interests because like her taekwondo you know, classmates are her age, her dance classmates are her age" Chow said. "The fact that she had so many additional outside interests, was really kind of a blessing."
Athena will continue to be present on the Irvine Valley College campus after this Thursday's event. The graduate said to her friends that she plans to finish many more associate's degrees.
"She had me email and also asked her counselor if she can get her credit limit lifted," Chow said. "She replied that just because she has an associate's degree, it does not mean that she is capable of doing the task. Even over the summer, she wanted to enroll in more credits and a wider variety of courses."
In response to a question about advice for the graduating class of 2024, which is mostly older than herself, Athena responded, "Just never give up."
Athena graduated on Thursday night from Irvine Valley College in Irvine, California, along with a large group of grads who are mostly between the ages of 19 and 21. She is earning an associate's degree in liberal arts and graduating with cum laude honors.
Before Athena's graduation, Christina Chow, her mother, said in an interview that the community college gave her daughter the freedom to pursue a variety of interests.
"In the past year, she has wanted to be a divorce attorney, an allergist, and an actor," Chow said. "We have tried not to say no to anything she is expressed interest in."
The Elling family has already graduated from Irvine Valley College with a much younger member.
A year ago, at the age of eleven, Tycho Elling, Athena's brother, set a record for the youngest-ever Orange County community college graduate.
Of course, Athena's motivation to defeat her older brother sprang from a little sibling rivalry.
"My brother also graduated with an AA just a couple days before he turned 12 and when he did it, I really also wanted to do that," Elling said.
After speaking with college advisors, the family discovered that completing the liberal arts degree in time to break the previous record was possible.
According to Chow, Tycho is "hyper-focused" while Athena is an outgoing person by nature. Tycho is now a student at the University of California, Irvine.
Outside of college, Athena pursues her studies in acting and dancing. She has a second-degree black belt in taekwondo.
"We have been lucky that she has so many interests because like her taekwondo you know, classmates are her age, her dance classmates are her age" Chow said. "The fact that she had so many additional outside interests, was really kind of a blessing."
Athena will continue to be present on the Irvine Valley College campus after this Thursday's event. The graduate said to her friends that she plans to finish many more associate's degrees.
"She had me email and also asked her counselor if she can get her credit limit lifted," Chow said. "She replied that just because she has an associate's degree, it does not mean that she is capable of doing the task. Even over the summer, she wanted to enroll in more credits and a wider variety of courses."
In response to a question about advice for the graduating class of 2024, which is mostly older than herself, Athena responded, "Just never give up."
