A 12-year-old boy is accepted to the University of Toronto in Canada, and at 16, he receives his bachelor’s degree.
AFRICA | 12-year-old boy obtains entrance to University of Toronto Canada, bags bachelor’s degree at 16.
At just 16 years old, Daniel Honciuc Menendez has achieved an unprecedented milestone: receiving a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics from the famous University of Toronto.
Daniel, who enrolled in the institution at the age of 12, completed his degree with honors, making history as its youngest graduate since 1979.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, he started his academic education from a distance in Ecuador, taking lessons virtually. He reflected on the event and stated it felt empty despite the fact that he was talking to his peers.
“The experience wasn’t really complete, even though I was still able to communicate with my classmates online—we had a Discord chat, as well as Instagram and Facebook Messenger chats,” he stated.
When in-person classes started again in 2021, Daniel and his mother relocated to Toronto. He still treasures the recollection of his first physics lab session. “I was thrilled to be able to engage with my instructors and fellow students face-to-face at last,” he remarked.
It has a somewhat corny sound. He remarked, “I loved that I could finally go interact with my professors and my classmates.”
Daniel’s love of reading and informative movies nourished his voracious curiosity from an early age. Due to his mother’s work as an electrical engineer, he was raised in a number of different countries. He did exceptionally well in school, skipping grades in Ecuador and the United Kingdom.
He took part in advanced courses such as the International Baccalaureate and the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University.
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Daniel went to Waterloo, Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics International Summer School when he was eleven years old.
This encounter introduced him to the University of Toronto, which would later serve as his academic home, and solidified his love for high-energy physics and quantum technologies.
Daniel intends to use a full European Union scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in physics. He will attend Sapienza University of Rome, Université Paris-Saclay, and then return to Toronto as part of this two-year program.
In addition to his academic objectives, Daniel is keen to support STEM education and launch a firm in order to contribute to the quantum computing sector. He trains young students and promotes inclusion in science as the Ecuadorian ambassador for Girls in Quantum.
He stated, “It’s not just about teaching kids; it’s also about helping them explore their interests and see what they can accomplish in the future.”
Daniel highlights the value of the assistance he had during his journey as he looks back on it. “It’s not ‘I’m grateful that I was the youngest to graduate.'” “I want to express my gratitude for your support throughout my journey,” he stated.
He attributes his greatest support to his mother, Liliana Menendez. He said, “She’s also really taught me the value of hard work and has been my emotional support through all of this.”
Liliana, Daniel’s mother, said she was proud of her son’s accomplishments. Daniel is an amazing young man. I’m quite proud of Daniel because, as he mentioned, he faced difficulties because he didn’t attend college at a typical age.
