Georgia 14-Year-Old Makes History as She Heads to Spelman College This Fall

Meet Sydney Wilson, a 14-year-old who's off to college in the fall. Find out how she managed to be the first ever freshman at Spelman College to be accepted at her young age.

While most 14-year olds are busy dealing with puberty, Sydney Wilson, who just turned 14 last week, is off to college. You heard it right. Wilson is now the first ever student in her age to be accepted into Spelman College.

SCHOOL STANDOUT

This fall, Wilson will be one of many freshmen students immersing themselves in college life. Though many people are surprised by her achievement, it is not surprising to the teen from Dekalb County that she’s making history.

As early as her second grade, Wilson knew she was different because she stood out from her classmates academically. Speaking to Channel 2’s Tyisha Fernandes, Wilson said she would often be teased because she was smart. But she didn’t let that affect her.

"I just stayed on my path," she recalled. "I didn't really feel like I needed to be popular ... because, I mean, I like myself."

Wilson recalled the moment she found out about her acceptance. Her father directed her attention to the computer and the moment she read the letter, she started screaming and crying at the same time.

Even her parents knew she was special so they enrolled her in Wilson Academy in Lithonia where she began taking high school classes at 10.

ON HER ACCEPTANCE TO SPELMAN

Three years into high school, she applied at Spelman and received the good news via email that she was accepted.

Wilson recalled the moment she found out about her acceptance. Her father directed her attention to the computer and the moment she read the letter, she started screaming and crying at the same time. “I ran out to tell my family, and we took a bunch of pictures and posted it on Instagram and everything,” she said.

"I've been with the older kids all my life, so socially, I don't think it will be a problem for me."

14 AND COLLEGE-BOUND

Many may be worried about how Wilson will adapt to the college setting because of her age but she isn’t. In fact, the teen is confident her experience around older kids in high school prepared her for it.

"I've been with the older kids all my life, so socially, I don't think it will be a problem for me."

Though Wilson’s acceptance in college is a rare achievement in itself, she’s aiming for greater things ahead. She intends to major in biology in order to discover a cure for human illnesses using animal science.

CHILD GENIUS

Wilson’s story reminds us of 4-year-old Alannah George who is showing signs of being way ahead of the rest of the students her age. She has an IQ of 140 (Einstein’s was 160) and would already read paragraphs at the age of three. Her parents said she’s obsessed with numbers and she’s been deemed an “intellectual genius.” Alannah is now a member of an elite society of gifted people called Mensa. We won’t be surprised if, by the time she reaches Wilson’s age, she may even surpass what Wilson has achieved.