Hold on to your hats because we have another super genius on our hands. Alena McQuarter, a 14-year-old from Texas is about to graduate from Arizona State University with a degree in biomedical biological sciences by December and a minor in global health according to USA Today.
Not content with just one degree, McQuarter is already planning to earn a master’s in biological sciences by May 2024 and then pursue a doctorate in viral immunology to study infectious diseases. Oh, and she’s the youngest Black person to be accepted into medical school and the youngest to intern at NASA?
But as impressive as all this is, it’s not without its challenges. In fact, her principal once told her that young girls of color can’t get good grades or pass state tests. But did McQuarter let that stop her? “It did kind of hurt because I worked hard to get the grades that I got,” She told USA Today. “Someone comes and tells you, ‘You can’t do this because you’re too young or you’re a girl of color.’ I really wanted to show her that I can get good grades and I can go on and do amazing things. So I’m proving that.”
She worked even harder and is now on her way to achieving her dreams. McQuarter is a trailblazer for girls of colour who want to study science, technology, engineering, and math. She’s even created an organization called STEMGirl to encourage and support young girls like herself.
It’s also worth noting her love for music, singing, and teaching, which she has shared with children in refugee camps in Jordan. And let’s not forget her trips to Ghana and her cancer research with mentor Tonya Webb at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
