Harvard University graduate Nkechinyere Chidi-Ogbolu is on to the next one ― but this is no reference to her love life. At just 18 years old, she’s already working towards her second college degree.
Last Saturday, Chidi-Ogbolu graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. This fall, she’ll be beginning a doctoral program for biomedical engineering at the University of California-Davis.
Chidi-Ogbolu, who was raised in Nigeria, skipped fifth grade in the primary school she attended in the country. Before beginning Harvard at 14 years old, she graduated from a British school system where the highest level of education was the 11th grade.
She told the university’s student publication The Hilltop that it’s common for children in Nigeria to graduate high school at 16 years old ― which is partly why she told the publication she didn’t think graduating college at 18 was anything noteworthy.
Yeah, happens all the time. I didn’t think graduating at 18 was a big deal,” she told The Hilltop. “But, when everyone else said they were proud of me, I felt emotional to get recognition from so many people.
AccusedOfNaiveté @ebuntohdun_
Issa 18 year old graduate 😆 #HU17 #Issa18yearoldgraduate
4:19 AM – May 14, 2017 · Glenarden, MD
