This 9-Year-Old Genius Is About To Become The World's Youngest University Graduate
It only took him nine months to complete his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
By May Vin Ang — 19 Nov 2019, 11:36 AM
Meet Laurent Simons. He's nine years old...
... And is going to graduate from Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE) in the Netherlands with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering this December.
Laurent, who hails from Amsterdam, enrolled at the university at the age of eight, and is completing the three-year programme in just nine months, reported New Straits Times.
That is, provided all goes well and he completes his final year project - about a brain-connected electrical chip.
With an IQ of at least 145, he is set to become the youngest person ever to complete a university degree.
Laurent has been labelled a child genius and is often compared to Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.
He can also speak four languages.
His parents, Lydia and Alexander Simons, said they initially thought Laurent's grandparents were exaggerating when they said he had a gift, but his school teachers soon concurred
According to The New York Times, Laurent grew up in Belgium with his grandparents while his parents worked in the Netherlands.
He started primary school when he was four, and went to high school at six - which he swiftly completed in a span of 18 months.
"They noticed something very special about Laurent," said Lydia, 29, who works as an office manager.
It was in school that Laurent was given test after test as teachers tried to work out the extent of his talents.
"They told us he is like a sponge," said Alexander, 37, who is a dentist.
Laurent's teachers at university continued to be blown away too
The university has allowed Laurent to complete his course faster than other students.
"That is not unusual," said Sjoerd Hulshof, education director of the TUE bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
Hulshof said Laurent is "simply extraordinary" and praised the child prodigy.
"Laurent is the fastest student we have ever had here," he said, "Not only is he hyper intelligent but also a very sympathetic boy."
When he's not studying, Laurent says he enjoys playing with his dog Joe, playing Fortnite and Minecraft, and watching Netflix
"I'm quite lazy," he said, because he's not into sports, chess, or any musical instruments.
"A lot of people have stereotypes about young geniuses," his father said, but also added that he and his wife are careful to let Laurent enjoy himself.
"We don't want him to get too serious. He does whatever he likes," said Alexander, "We need to find a balance between being a child and his talents."
For his next chapter, Laurent said that he would like to study in the United States because "the weather is good there"
Ultimately, he sees himself developing artificial organs in the future - most notably, artificial hearts.
When asked why, Laurent explained that his own grandparents have heart conditions.
"I'd like to help people like them," he simply said.
