California 12-year-old graduates from Fullerton College with FIVE degrees

At age nine, Clovis Hung enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester at Fullerton College after his mother pulled him out of public school due to his undeniable gifted abilities, according to KABC7.

Hung was admitted into the college's "Special Admit program”, which allowed him to attend in-person classes while also giving him the opportunity to continue homeschool learning taught by his mother, Song Choi, who called her child "self-disciplined" and "highly motivated."

"Clovis is super inquisitive, mature, diligent, self-disciplined, and highly motivated," Song Choi told the college said in a statement. "He is also very curious and traditional public schools could not satisfy his curiosity, therefore, the best option was college."

Clovis Hung, who has dreams of becoming an aerospace engineer, pilot, or pediatrician, told the outlet that he first felt intimidated taking classes at the college but his professors and classmates immediately welcomed him with open arms, which helped him thrive and succeed.

"When I had questions, I asked them, and if they had questions, they’d ask me," Hung told KABC. "They treated me like a little brother."

"I instantly fell in love with college life," Hung explained. "So, I challenged myself to take more classes."

Fullerton Biology Professor Kenneth Collins told the outlet that he was initially concerned about the challenges Hung may face taking high-level courses at such a young age. Instead, the professor found himself surprised by Hung's maturity.

"At first, I was a little worried about how he would relate to the other students given the age and developmental differences, however, those concerns were unfounded," Collins said. "Clovis has been a great mixture of ‘kid’ and college student. He is mature enough that the other students take him seriously, but enough of a kid that they look after him like a younger brother and cheer him on."

Hung, who was ultimately admitted into the Honors Program, graduated on May 20 with five Associate of Arts degrees in History, Social Sciences, Social Behavior and Self-Development, Arts and Human Expression, and Science and Mathematics.

Beginning Fall 2023, Hung will be taking STEM courses at the college before he applies to universities, and was elected by his classmates to be a senator for associated students for the upcoming school year.

"I feel really proud of what I've accomplished so far," Hung said to ABC7. "I also just joined the Civic Air Patrol and hope to get my pilot license at age 16."