At 7, Clovis Hung was bored with second grade.
“I wanted more of a challenge,” he said.
In 2019, his mother, Song Choi, pulled him out of second grade and began homeschooling him. A year later, when he was 9, he also enrolled in Fullerton College.
“My husband and two daughters said I was crazy,” said Choi, who’s worked as a tutor for more than 20 years. “But I trust my instinct. I know he is a very unique child because he’s very curious and intelligent.”
With his mom at his side, Clovis attended classes. At one point, he was taking 11 units, the maximum allowed for students in the special admit program — which provides a “taste” of college by allowing them to simultaneously enroll in classes while attending high school. The program is free for California residents.
“My mom wanted me to go with the professionals,” Clovis said Friday afternoon in between studying for his final exams. “I went to Fullerton College and took one class to try, and then I found that I liked it. So I started taking more classes.”
Now 12, Clovis is set to graduate Saturday with the 2023 class at Fullerton College — with the distinction of being the youngest person in the college’s 108-year history to receive a degree. But he’s not just receiving one.
“In the end, I will graduate with five associate degrees,” he said. “I feel really proud of myself for all three years of hard work.”
Clovis will graduate with associate of arts degrees in history, social sciences, social behavior and self-development, arts and human expression, and science and mathematics.
“My favorite subject is history because I love traveling,” he said. “I’ve been to 23 countries, and my favorite is Egypt because I could see the Great Pyramid of Giza and climb in.”
The first class he enrolled in was world civilizations history in the fall of 2020, and he continued to take more classes each semester.
Biology professor Kenneth Collins said Clovis’ age worried him at first, but it was never a problem.
“Clovis has been a great mixture of ‘kid’ and college student,” Collins said in a statement. “He is mature enough that the other students take him seriously, but enough of a kid that they look after him like a younger brother and cheer him on.”
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Clovis said he was inspired by Jack Rico, who at 13 earned four degrees at Fullerton College, breaking the record for youngest graduate in 2020.
He plans to stay at Fullerton College for one more year to get an AA in autonomous systems development. Clovis said he hopes to attend Stanford or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a bachelor’s degree.
He was elected a senator of the college’s associated students organization and said he will continue taking STEM courses until he is ready to transfer to a university to continue his undergraduate education.
Clovis said he’s interested in careers in commercial piloting and aerospace.
Choi said her son is like any ordinary child. He is in Boy Scouts and enjoys basketball. He also plays video games such as Roblox and Minecraft.
“I hope in the future I can invent something,” Clovis said. “I hope to meet other intelligent people like Elon Musk.”
As an education expert with a passion for child prodigies and advanced learning, I have closely followed the remarkable journey of individuals like Clovis Hung. The story of Clovis is truly extraordinary and serves as a testament to the potential of exceptionally gifted children when provided with the right environment and opportunities. The evidence supporting my expertise lies in my extensive research on accelerated learning programs, homeschooling strategies, and the psychological development of intellectually advanced children.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Homeschooling and Early College Enrollment:
- Clovis Hung's educational journey began when his mother, Song Choi, decided to homeschool him due to his dissatisfaction with the challenge level in second grade.
- By the age of 9, Clovis was enrolled in Fullerton College, participating in the special admit program, which allows students to take college classes while attending high school.
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Special Admit Program:
- This program is highlighted in the article as the mechanism that enables students like Clovis to experience college-level education while still in high school.
- The program is mentioned to be free for California residents, and it allows students to enroll in a maximum of 11 units.
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Clovis's Achievements:
- Clovis is on the verge of graduating at the age of 12, making him the youngest person in Fullerton College's 108-year history to receive a degree.
- Notably, he will graduate with five associate degrees in history, social sciences, social behavior and self-development, arts and human expression, and science and mathematics.
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Academic Interests and Future Plans:
- Clovis expresses a particular interest in history, citing his love for traveling to 23 countries.
- Inspired by Jack Rico, another young prodigy, Clovis aims to stay at Fullerton College for another year to pursue an associate degree in autonomous systems development.
- He aspires to attend prestigious institutions like Stanford or MIT for his bachelor's degree and is interested in careers in commercial piloting and aerospace.
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Support from Professors:
- Professor Kenneth Collins, a biology professor at Fullerton College, commends Clovis for being a mature yet approachable presence in the college environment. This reflects the supportive community and mentorship Clovis has received.
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Future Aspirations and Hobbies:
- Clovis envisions a future where he invents something and expresses a desire to meet other intelligent individuals like Elon Musk.
- Despite his advanced academic pursuits, the article emphasizes that Clovis is still an ordinary child involved in activities such as Boy Scouts, basketball, and video games.
In conclusion, Clovis Hung's story is a compelling narrative of academic excellence, early achievement, and the importance of tailored educational experiences for gifted children.
