US Teen Started College at 10, Earns Doctorate at 17
2024-05-16
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1Dorothy Jean Tillman II of Chicago, Illinois took her first college class at age 10.
2This month, she became the youngest person to earn a doctorate in integrated behavioral health at Arizona State University.
3When she completed her study program, she was 17.
4Arizona State professor Leslie Manson told the television program Good Morning America, "It's a wonderful celebration, and we hope ... that Dorothy Jean inspires more students."
5And she added, "But this is still something so rare and unique."
6Her friends and family, though, call Tillman by another name, "Dorothy Jeanius."
7A "genius" is a very smart person.
8When most students her age were still in middle school, Tillman took classes through the College of Lake County in northern Illinois.
9She studied psychology and completed her associate's degree in 2016.
10She earned a bachelor's in humanities from New York's Excelsior College in 2018.
11About two years later, she finished her master of science degree from Unity College in Maine.
12In 2021, she started work on her doctoral degree at Arizona State.
13Most of her work has been done online while living at home.
14Tillman told the Associated Press that she credits her mother and grandmother for her educational success.
15"Everything that we were doing didn't seem abnormal to me or out of the ordinary until it started getting all of the attention," said Tillman.
16But she did not get to do all the normal things for young people.
17"I didn't have the everyday school things like (school) dances or spirit weeks or just school pictures and things like that ..." she said.
18She did find time for a dance program and started an organization called the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute.
19STEAM stands for "science, technology, engineering, arts and math."
20The program helps young people interested in those subjects during school breaks.
21Now that she has finished her studies, Tillman who is now 18, plans to work on raising money to expand her organization.
22She hopes to bring it to other places beyond Chicago.
23Manson, the Arizona State professor, said Tillman is creative and energetic, and that she is "a true leader."
24Her mother Jimalita Tillman said she is proud of her daughter's ability to deal with success while making good choices between taking part in social activities and her studies.
25I'm Dan Friedell.
1Dorothy Jean Tillman II of Chicago, Illinois took her first college class at age 10. This month, she became the youngest person to earn a doctorate in integrated behavioral health at Arizona State University. 2When she completed her study program, she was 17. 3Arizona State professor Leslie Manson told the television program Good Morning America, "It's a wonderful celebration, and we hope ... that Dorothy Jean inspires more students." And she added, "But this is still something so rare and unique." 4Her friends and family, though, call Tillman by another name, "Dorothy Jeanius." A "genius" is a very smart person. 5When most students her age were still in middle school, Tillman took classes through the College of Lake County in northern Illinois. She studied psychology and completed her associate's degree in 2016. 6She earned a bachelor's in humanities from New York's Excelsior College in 2018. About two years later, she finished her master of science degree from Unity College in Maine. In 2021, she started work on her doctoral degree at Arizona State. 7Most of her work has been done online while living at home. 8Tillman told the Associated Press that she credits her mother and grandmother for her educational success. 9"Everything that we were doing didn't seem abnormal to me or out of the ordinary until it started getting all of the attention," said Tillman. 10But she did not get to do all the normal things for young people. "I didn't have the everyday school things like (school) dances or spirit weeks or just school pictures and things like that ..." she said. 11She did find time for a dance program and started an organization called the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute. STEAM stands for "science, technology, engineering, arts and math." The program helps young people interested in those subjects during school breaks. 12Now that she has finished her studies, Tillman who is now 18, plans to work on raising money to expand her organization. She hopes to bring it to other places beyond Chicago. 13Manson, the Arizona State professor, said Tillman is creative and energetic, and that she is "a true leader." 14Her mother Jimalita Tillman said she is proud of her daughter's ability to deal with success while making good choices between taking part in social activities and her studies. 15I'm Dan Friedell. 16Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by The Associated Press. 17______________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19doctorate -adj. a top-level degree that leads to a Ph.D 20inspire -v. to give people good feelings about doing something 21unique -adj. special or unusual 22associate -adj. a first-level college degree that takes two years to complete and leads to entry into a four-year college 23bachelor -adj. a degree granted to a student after four years of undergraduate study 24master -adj. an advanced degree that comes after a bachelor's degree 25We want to hear from you. Do you know anyone else who is ahead of schedule in their education?