There’s no shame in not being the sharpest kid in your college class. Some people are simply smarter than others. But when the college kid who’s smarter than you is an 11-year-old boy…well, that’s a little harder to accept. But that’s precisely the situation some students are finding themselves in at the University of Toledo in Ohio because one of their classmates just happens to be a child prodigy named Daniel Liu.
“This genius kid is 11 and in my organic chemistry class,” wrote Cigdem Kahyaoglu, 19, who shared a picture of her youngest classmate on Twitter recently. “He said if we have questions to just email him.” Since then the tweet has been liked more than 230k times, but Daniel (who goes to high school but takes some classes at the university) is no stranger to fame. He’s already met Bill Nye (the Science Guy), and he’s even met Obama when collecting the $10,000 college education scholarship that he won at the White House Science Fair. Did we mention that this smart kid is only eleven?
More info: Twitter
Daniel Liu is 11-years-old, but that doesn’t stop him from studying organic chemistry at the University of Toledo in Ohio!
His classmate tweeted a picture of him recently and it instantly went viral. Daniel’s no stranger to fame though. Here he is with Bill Nye the Science Guy!
He even met Barack Obama at the White House Science Fair after winning a $10,000 scholarship
Did we mention he’s only eleven?
The tweet has already been shared over 230k times, and as you can see, the internet can’t get enough of him
167Kviews
Share on FacebookI see a few comments below wondering about the emotional development of an 11 year old going to school with much older kids. Rest assured, he is fine. Smart kids are adaptable. They adjust. There was a time when parents and teachers would force very bright kids (disclosure, I was one of those kids) to stay with kids their own age in school because of "socialization issues". Apparently, being forced to endure endless boredom in a room of people who wouldn't understand page one of the book you're currently reading and resent that fact is "healthy". Not. Bright kids get bored. I know I was, and my reading on the subject concurs. Bored kids get into all kinds of trouble, and because their also bright bored kids, they just don't get caught.
It does go to show where the focus of some younger people is at. One is focused on his future and the importance of his education, while another is more worried about how Twitter famous he is. Good for Daniel. Much respect to him, whether the work is hard for him and he studies like mad or its easy for him and he needs more difficult studies to drive his intellect.
It is NOT that he is "more focused". So you are saying that if ANY 11 year old were "more focused" they could accomplish the same things? He is obviously physiologically gifted with an above normal I.Q.
Load More Replies...Just gonna put this out there as someone who skipped a few grades in school. I started college at 14 and med school at 18. Looking back, I loved the challenge. It was everything I wanted. But now I'm 28 and what has it gotten me? An extra 4 years of working/salary. What did I miss? High school football games. Hallway pranks. Prom. Mindless hours making fun of the teacher and having fun being a kid with zero responsibility. Everything I watched my sister, 6 years my junior, enjoy. I still regret it to this day. You have your whole life to be an adult, but you only have a few years to be a kid. Kids don't really know what they want when they're kids. That's why they have parents. Parents should make sure their kids spend their 18 years as children being exactly that -- children. Regardless of how much "brain" they have.
A genius has regrets? Thank you for sharing, nicely stated.
Load More Replies...Too bad the best parts of university life can be enjoyed only if you are over 18...
I'm sure Daniel would have spell it right :)
Load More Replies...I'm turning 11 on July 10 and all I have accomplished is.. Well nothing actually. 😆
I'm impressed. Organic Chemistry and Statistics were the two subjects which made students gripe the most when I was at college.
He is certainly very intelligent (understand: very good memory, logic, understanding of matehmatic,...). I highly doubt that is "emotionally" or "socially" adult. The simple fact that he said to mail him for questions is an illustration. Don't misunderstand me: it's not at all an issue, he is 11, his brain is still growing. But putting a eleven year old in University is taking away his years where he could experience this (and by the way having a kid's life). I find it a little bit sad, our system is not adapted for kids like him...Hope for the best anyway! :)
Most adults are not socially adjusted well. Of course Daniel is not ready for college at a social or emotional level but he will need to be pushed intellectually to improve. Grade schools are not going to be able to cater just to him at that level.
Load More Replies...He has his whole life to learn organic chemistry but only a short time to be a kid.........An 11 year old can't be an 11 year old in college.
That's a typical thought of ordinary people. Ever thought, that he is rather taking complicated classes than playing outside with other kids? This kid is very smart, he would probably say something, if he didn't enjoy himself. Normal kids do all those things they do, because their brain is still developing and they are building up their activities based on their intellectual level. His level is very high, he likes other things, things smart adults like and he often masters them better. He is not just some 11 year old. I think he is perfectly fine :)
Load More Replies...I see a few comments below wondering about the emotional development of an 11 year old going to school with much older kids. Rest assured, he is fine. Smart kids are adaptable. They adjust. There was a time when parents and teachers would force very bright kids (disclosure, I was one of those kids) to stay with kids their own age in school because of "socialization issues". Apparently, being forced to endure endless boredom in a room of people who wouldn't understand page one of the book you're currently reading and resent that fact is "healthy". Not. Bright kids get bored. I know I was, and my reading on the subject concurs. Bored kids get into all kinds of trouble, and because their also bright bored kids, they just don't get caught.
It does go to show where the focus of some younger people is at. One is focused on his future and the importance of his education, while another is more worried about how Twitter famous he is. Good for Daniel. Much respect to him, whether the work is hard for him and he studies like mad or its easy for him and he needs more difficult studies to drive his intellect.
It is NOT that he is "more focused". So you are saying that if ANY 11 year old were "more focused" they could accomplish the same things? He is obviously physiologically gifted with an above normal I.Q.
Load More Replies...Just gonna put this out there as someone who skipped a few grades in school. I started college at 14 and med school at 18. Looking back, I loved the challenge. It was everything I wanted. But now I'm 28 and what has it gotten me? An extra 4 years of working/salary. What did I miss? High school football games. Hallway pranks. Prom. Mindless hours making fun of the teacher and having fun being a kid with zero responsibility. Everything I watched my sister, 6 years my junior, enjoy. I still regret it to this day. You have your whole life to be an adult, but you only have a few years to be a kid. Kids don't really know what they want when they're kids. That's why they have parents. Parents should make sure their kids spend their 18 years as children being exactly that -- children. Regardless of how much "brain" they have.
A genius has regrets? Thank you for sharing, nicely stated.
Load More Replies...Too bad the best parts of university life can be enjoyed only if you are over 18...
I'm sure Daniel would have spell it right :)
Load More Replies...I'm turning 11 on July 10 and all I have accomplished is.. Well nothing actually. 😆
I'm impressed. Organic Chemistry and Statistics were the two subjects which made students gripe the most when I was at college.
He is certainly very intelligent (understand: very good memory, logic, understanding of matehmatic,...). I highly doubt that is "emotionally" or "socially" adult. The simple fact that he said to mail him for questions is an illustration. Don't misunderstand me: it's not at all an issue, he is 11, his brain is still growing. But putting a eleven year old in University is taking away his years where he could experience this (and by the way having a kid's life). I find it a little bit sad, our system is not adapted for kids like him...Hope for the best anyway! :)
Most adults are not socially adjusted well. Of course Daniel is not ready for college at a social or emotional level but he will need to be pushed intellectually to improve. Grade schools are not going to be able to cater just to him at that level.
Load More Replies...He has his whole life to learn organic chemistry but only a short time to be a kid.........An 11 year old can't be an 11 year old in college.
That's a typical thought of ordinary people. Ever thought, that he is rather taking complicated classes than playing outside with other kids? This kid is very smart, he would probably say something, if he didn't enjoy himself. Normal kids do all those things they do, because their brain is still developing and they are building up their activities based on their intellectual level. His level is very high, he likes other things, things smart adults like and he often masters them better. He is not just some 11 year old. I think he is perfectly fine :)
Load More Replies...
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