Ten-year-old becomes a high school sophomore at Elite Institution
Jet, July 5, 2004
Jake Harris is different from most children his age.
At 10 years old the Harvey, IL, resident has excelled so in his young academic career that he has skipped the first, fourth, sixth and most recently the ninth grades. This August, young Jake will accomplish yet another feat by becoming one of the youngest students to enroll at the prestigious Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (ISMA) in Aurora.
In spite of his genius qualities Jake, this year's 8th-grade valedictorian for the Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, says that he's just a regular kid who enjoys spending time with his siblings and playing video games.
"I'm like a typical 10-year-old at home. But if you look at me at school I'm like an 18-year-old trying to focus on my work," he says.
IMSA is recognized internationally as an elite residential institution that prepares students grade 10-12 for college, stimulating excellence in math, science and technology. Jake, number four in a line-up of seven children, is excited about attending the academy, meeting other students like himself, and the challenging courses ahead.
"I'm looking forward to being out on my own," says Jake. "Even though it's supposed to be hard, I don't really think that it should be much of a problem to do the work because I'm ready."
Donna Harris, a stay-at-home-mom, says that she her husband John, a cardiovascular radiology technologist, knew that their son was special from the moment he came into the world.
"Jake's mind was very inquisitive from day one. He started to ask questions that my other kids didn't ask," says Donna, who is expecting her eighth child. "My theory is that [his] special talent comes from the Lord."
Besides getting a Ph.D. in math and science from Yale University, Jake plans to use his skills to become an astronomer, biologist, chemist and an inventor.
"I'd like to fumble with chemicals, make up cures, work on extraterrestrial life or invent things for the world," says Jake.
The avid reader of fiction and non-fiction books admits that learning has always come naturally for him.
But for those who may have a more difficult time with their studies, Harris suggests to "study harder, read a lot, believe in yourself and have faith in God. He'll help you out."
- 5 Rules for Immediate Annuities
- Death in the Family: 12 Things to Do Now
- Dumbest Things You Do With Your Money
- 6 Online Networking Mistakes to Avoid
- 401(k) Mistakes to Avoid
- 5 Economic Scenarios to Keep You Up at Night
- The Real ‘Best Places to Retire’
- Best Credit Cards for You
- 12 Tough Questions to Ask Your Parents
- The Real ‘Best Colleges’
- Home Buyer Tax Credit: How to Cash In
- Why You Shouldn't Bash Cash
- 8 Phony 'Bargains' and Better Alternatives
- Danger: 3 Debit Card Scams to Avoid
- 6 Myths About Gas Mileage
- 29 Fees We Hate Most
- Quick and Easy Ways to Boost Returns
- Best Stocks to Buy Now
- Lower Your Taxes: 10 Moves to Make Now
- New Jobs: 8 Lessons from Real-Life Career Switchers
- The New Job Market: Who Wins and Who Loses?
- Health Care Reform's Public Option: Everything You Need to Know
- Volunteer Work When Unemployed: Should You Work for Free?
- Whose Recovery Is This?
- Long-Term-Care Insurance: 4 Biggest Risks to Avoid
Content provided in partnership with
Most Recent Reference Articles
- A Maryland state trooper gave Erik Bonstrom an $80 ticket for driving too slowly
- In California, postal worker Dean Hudson has been found guilty
- Alec Loorz, the 15-year-old founder of Kids vs. Global Warming and recent Brower Youth Award recipient, went to Congress in November for a press conference with Senators Barbara Boxer and John Kerry, who are championing legislation to stabilize US greenho
- Foreign exchange
- The buzz on bees
Most Recent Reference Publications
Most Popular Reference Articles
- Credit card debt on college campuses: causes, consequences, and solutions
- 9 questions to ask your new lover: what you were afraid to ask, but always wanted to know
- How Tyler Perry rose from homelessness to a $5 million mansion
- Rejoice anyway - Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7 - Living by the Word - Column
- Living by the word


