A girl from Ottawa, age 12 achieved Canadian history as the youngest university graduate. Anthaea- Grace Patricia Dennis, is a child genius, who was the youngest to graduate from the Canadian university.
Patricia Dennis will accept her bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from the University of Ottawa.
When most of her friends were playing games at recess, she started the program at the age of 9.
“I am proud about myself for getting to this point and despite all the hurdles and obstacles that there have been for a person like me” this was mentioned at an interview by Ms. Patricia Dennis.
Her mom, Johanna Dennis, her biggest supporter was proud and exited about her daughter’s achievement. She said that she realized her daughter was special at the age of two-and-a-half years.
Dennis built her own academic career, while she was a single mother. After obtaining many degrees, she’s now a law professor, and helps in her daughter’s education.
Ms. Patricia Dennis said that her mom was always there for her whenever she needs.
An intensive university program presents a special set of challenges especially for a preteen. People’s expectation and preconceived notions, has to be delt with in terms of how she is going to look, act and talk based on her age.
Ms. Patricia Dennis advised, individuals who are smart, young and talented- don’t let other people’s expectations bring you down, “everywhere I go that’s been a major obstacle”.
So far, the highlights of her university career were completing a 40- page thesis on the relationship functional activity in the cerebellum- a part of the brain is responsible for coordinating balance, movement and handedness.
The paper concluded, that the connection between the brain and hand is significantly different for individuals who are right-handed versus those who are left-handed.
At the Ottawa- Carleton Institute of Biology Symposium, Ms. Patricia Dennis presented her findings after researching the topic for over a year.
“I feel like the master of the cerebellum, when people are showing interest in what I’m doing and I can call myself a researcher” she said.
Ms. Dennis said that when her daughter was not researching or writing about the brain, she plays the violin and she is very good at it.
Ms. Patricia Dennis is pursuing postgraduate school, after a well- earned break from her studies over the summer.
The Illinois Institute of Technology, McGill University and University of Toronto are her top three candidates. She’s interested in continuing her research on functional activity in the cerebellum.
“When I have my own lab, I’ll probably pick it back up and get people to do it with me, since I’ll be in charge. She mentioned.
