Laurent Simons, a child prodigy from Belgium, is on course to get a bachelor's degree, and he is just nine-years-old.
Laurent, The child genius
Laurent Simons is currently studying electrical engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology or TUE, which is a tough course even for students of an average graduate age. The staff at his school described Simons as simply extraordinary. He is on course to finish his degree in December. He then plans to embark on a Ph.D. program in electrical engineering while also studying for a medicine degree, his father said in a statement.
His parents, Lydia and Alexander Simons, stated that they thought Laurent's grandparents were just exaggerating when they said that their son had a gift, but his teachers soon agreed that Laurent is exceptional.
His mother, Lydia, said that the grandparents and teachers noticed something very special about her son. He was given test after test as teachers tried to work out the extent of his talents. Mrs. Simons also said that they told her that her son is like a sponge, as the child can easily absorb everything that he is taught.
While Laurent comes from a family of doctors, his parents have not received any explanation as to why their child is capable of learning fast. But his mother has her own theory. Mrs. Simons joked that it could be because she ate a lot of fish when she was pregnant.
The TUE has allowed Laurent to complete his course faster than the other students. Sjoerd Hulshof, education director of the TUE bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, said in a statement that Laurent's case is not unusual. There are special students that have good reasons for graduating early and getting their degree early, so they are ready to arrange an adjusted schedule. They help students who participate in top sport to have an adjustable schedule as well.
Hulshof said that Laurent is extraordinary and praised the young boy. He said that Laurent is the fastest student that he had ever had. He added he is not only intelligent, but he is also very sympathetic.
The next step for the nine-year-old genius
Laurent said that his favorite subject in electrical engineering, and he is also going to study medicine. His progress has not gone unnoticed, and he is already being sought out by numerous prestigious universities around the world, although his family would not be drawn on naming which of them he is considering for his Ph.D.
His father said that the absorption of information is no issue for Laurent. He thinks the focus will be on research and applying the knowledge to discover new things.
While Laurent can learn faster than most, his parents still encourage him to enjoy himself too. His father, Alexander, said that they do not want him to get too serious. He can do whatever he likes, and they find a balance between being a child and his talents.
Laurent said that he enjoys playing with his dog Sammy and playing on his phone, like a lot of young kids his age. However, unlike most children, he has already worked out what he wants to do with his life, and that is to create artificial organs.
In the meantime, the boy has to finish his bachelor's degree and choose which University will play host to the next stage in his life. Before that, he plans on taking a vacation to Japan for a well-deserved break.
