What were you doing when you were 13? For most of us, we were probably in middle school at 13, that awkward age when puberty has begun and we have our first real crush. Many young teens desperately want to fit in and be like everyone else, but sometimes it’s hard. Fortunately, some teens don’t try to fit in. Instead, they break the mold.
Alena Analeigh Wicker graduated from high school at the age of 12. Her mother, Daphne McQuarter, credits her daughter’s academic success to the fact that in addition to being educated in a traditional school, she was also home-schooled and world-schooled.
Wicker is moving out of the house and into a college dorm. She currently attends Oakwood University and Arizona State University. At 13, she is a freshman in college and has just been accepted to the University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine. She will start in 2024. She was accepted through an early assurance program.
Wicker told the Baltimore Times about how she became interested in STEM. She explained, “I was about three or four years old when I became fascinated with stars, space and LEGOs. My mom started taking me to different astronomy parties and NASA centers. I remember walking in and saying, “I’m going to work here someday, and I’ll be the youngest girl of color working here.”
When Wicker has a goal, she achieves it. At age 12, she was the youngest NASA intern ever.
While Wicker’s dream of working for NASA hasn’t changed, the type of career she wants to have there has. She explains, “Originally, I wanted to be an engineer for NASA. Going to college helped me discover what I really wanted to do, which was to become a flight surgeon and work with astronauts.”
Wicker has become known as The Brown STEM Girl, and she shares her journey on Instagram. She credits her mother for helping her achieve her dreams, and she also credits her for working very hard to achieve everything she’s accomplished so far.
Still, Wicker says she is “still a normal 13-year-old.” For example, she enjoys spending time with her friends, watching movies and baking.
Wicker told the Post that the reason she has accomplished so much is because she has “really good time management and I’m very disciplined.”
McQuarter gave some advice to parents to the Baltimore Times. She stated, “Not every child is destined to go to college, and that’s okay.” She added, “Every child is different – if there are multiple children at home, don’t compare them.” She continued: “Celebrate the little things that, for a child, are sometimes huge.”
In addition, Ms. McQuarter recommends therapy “even if everything is fine.” She emphasized the importance of mental health and explained that she believes a therapist gives the child “the space to feel that someone is listening and that they have a voice and a safe outlet to share their feelings.”
