In an inspiring tale of youthful brilliance and ambition, 13-year-old Joshua Suddith from Conyers, Georgia, has achieved a remarkable feat: he has been accepted to Morehouse College, breaking the long-standing record set by none other than civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who enrolled at the prestigious institution at the age of 15 back in 1944.
Currently, Joshua is not just hitting the books at Hills Academy; he’s also taking college-level courses at Augusta Technical College, where he’s amassed an impressive 27 credit hours and boasts a GPA of 3.88. His academic achievements are nothing short of extraordinary for someone his age. From an early age, he exhibited signs of exceptional intelligence, talking at just 9 months, reading by 18 months, and authoring his first book at the tender age of 3.
Joshua’s academic journey has been a whirlwind, as he swiftly accelerated through the educational system, skipping multiple grades: from second to fifth, then to seventh, and finally landing in 11th grade by the age of 12. His impressive academic record has attracted the attention of numerous higher education institutions, resulting in over 20 acceptance letters, including offers from historically significant schools like Jackson State University and Tennessee State University.
His fascination with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) began when he was just 4 years old, after learning about Dr. King’s academic legacy at Morehouse. This inspiration ignited a dream, a dream that Joshua has now realized by becoming a student at the very institution that shaped one of America’s most influential leaders. His mother, Chaundra Suddith, highlights his unwavering determination, stating, “His grit and determination are the most impressive things about him. He didn’t let challenges get in the way of his dream.” she told 11 Alive.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Joshua enjoys engaging in normal teenage activities, including playing basketball, demonstrating that he is as well-rounded as he is intellectually gifted. His father, sharing in the pride of his son’s achievements, expressed his hope that Joshua remains grounded, saying, “As my namesake, Joshua truly makes me proud. I pray he always keeps God first.”
Looking ahead, Joshua has ambitious plans, including applications to elite universities like Harvard, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Yale, and Princeton. However, he has chosen to defer his enrollment at Morehouse for a year to complete his high school education, with plans to commute to the college where he aims to study international relations, a fitting field for someone with such a keen intellect and a desire to make an impact on the world.
