Anita Bennett, a 14-year-old from Northeast Ohio, made headlines across the country when she became one of the youngest people to acquire three associate degrees before graduating from high school.
Bennett recently finished her studies at Cuyahoga Community College aka Tri-C, although the majority of teens her age were in their first year of high school.
According to Cleveland 19 News, Bennett graduated summa cum laude and received a standing ovation from her peers while earning her Associate of Science degree as well as two short-term certificates in just 10 months.
She was enrolled in College Credit Plus (CCP), a dual-enrollment program that enables students to take college-level classes while still in high school, for the last three years, according to a school official. The university added that Bennett obtained her third degree before even completing her first year of high school.
Cuyahoga Community College President Michael Baston remarked, “This is what excellence looks like,” as the audience continued to applaud. Bennett is already aware of her next course of action.
She told WKYC 3, “I definitely want to take over my mother’s home childcare. It’s a five-star home childcare and I have just always had a passion for children and for teaching and all of that stuff. So when I get older, I’m going to be her business partner.”
On the other hand, being a young student at Tri-C is nothing new for the Bennett family; two of Bennett’s siblings previously attended online education before enrolling in the College Credit Plus Program. Bennett explained that her oldest sister, Angel, who is now 21 started Tri-C when she was 13. Her other sister Amber started when she was 11 and Bennett said she also started when she was 11.
The brilliant teen balanced out her life by participating in the choir and gymnastics in addition to her academic work. She further asserted that at the age of 18, she will be eligible to begin her job as an early childhood administrator.
“Tri-C gave me a huge head start on my career, and this will make my life so much more fulfilling,” said Bennett. She stated that she plans to enroll in Cleveland State University or Notre Dame College in the fall.
