At age 12, Palmdale resident Fiona Currie became the youngest person to graduate from LA City College. She started taking college classes at the start of the pandemic. She was only 9 years old, but her parents wanted her to use her time well.
“It started at the beginning of the covid pandemic, because schools were closing and turning to online learning and we found that the school district really couldn’t provide online learning at that time,” says Roderick Currie.
That’s when Fiona’s parents decided to start homeschooling, “and around that same time we found out that elementary school students can take college classes, too,” adds Roderick.
However, Fiona’s parents did not expect her to graduate from college. “We never thought that she was going to graduate. We just wanted her to be busy with something, because she had a lot of free time, ”Blanca’s mother says of her.
However, Fiona took her studies seriously. Three years later, she Fiona took the stage to receive an Associate’s Degree, she was also on the dean’s list and had a 4.0 GPA.
Additionally, on June 6, she became the youngest person to graduate from LA City College. “I was really surprised when I was given a standing ovation for being the youngest graduating student in the history of LA City College.”
Her degree is in Art and her dream is to work in a large animation company. “My favorite class was digital art and I loved it because I got to experiment with using tools like Photoshop to create different pieces of digital art.”
LA City College sent a statement in which they express that “we are very proud of her and we are excited that she will return to the LACC to obtain another degree in the fall.”
Roderick recommends that if your kids are doing “very well in school and need extra education, then it’s a great opportunity to enroll in some college classes by taking classes at community colleges. They can apply that credit toward high school, so it’s a great program.”
Fiona plans to continue her studies at the university level while enjoying her time playing with her younger sister and doing normal things for a 12-year-old girl. But she is also determined to follow her dreams.
“No goal is too big, no goal is too small, as long as it’s your goal and you work towards it and if you believe you can do it, you can do it,” he says.
