A 13-year-old girl was accepted into medical school, all while earning bachelor’s degrees from two different universities and graduating from high school a year earlier.
Elena Annaleigh Wicker was accepted into the university alabamaHeersink School of Medicine’s class of 2024 in June, despite being more than 10 years younger than the average medical student.
She is accepted as she continues to work through her degree in biological sciences degree at both Oakwood University and Arizona State University, and makes her the youngest black student to be accepted into medical school.
‘What is age?’ Alina told Washington Post‘You’re not too young to do anything. I feel like I have proved myself that I can do anything in which I can put my heart and mind.
Alina at her high school graduation with NASA’s Langley Research Center director Clayton Turner (left)
Elena Annaleigh Wicker, 13, was accepted into the University of Alabama’s Heersink School of Medicine class of 2024
Heersink School of Medicine of the University of Alabama. Alina was accepted to join the class of 2024
Alina lives outside Fort Worth, Texas, and does most of her research online.
She is also the founder of the Brown STEM Girl organization, which strives to help girls of color explore futures in science, technology, engineering, and math.
“We are showing the world that there are other girls just like me, and they deserve an opportunity and a chance,” Alina said of the show.
Alina was adopted by her mother, Daphne McQuarter, who said she knew from an early age that her daughter was different.
“Elena was gifted,” McQuarter explained, adding that she knew Alina was special as she was three years old, “that it was just the way she did things and how advanced she was.” She was reading chapter books.’
She threw out schoolwork, and was so intelligent in her early years that her mother had to home-school her to avoid bullying from children who called her things like ‘smart pants’.
By fifth grade though she returned to class, she focused on an advanced high school curriculum instead of studying the usual ten-year-old fare.
‘I was bored,’ Alina said, ‘that high school work was so easy for me that I graduated from high school at the age of 12.
Alina completed her high school graduation in 2021 at the age of 12. A year later she was accepted into medical school.
Alina with DeSoto, Texas, Mayor Rachel Proctor (right) wearing a sweatshirt from Joe Alina’s outfit Brown STEM Girl
prodigy too Became the youngest NASA intern last summer when she thought she wanted to pursue engineering.
Clayton Turner, director of NASA’s Langley Research Center, hired Alina after news broke of her saying she dreams of working for NASA.
‘Elena is one of those extraordinary intelligences,’ he said, but clarified that her mind wasn’t the only thing that made her stand out, ‘what’s in her is to want to help others, to lift others up. Is.’
Once Alina began to explore biology in her undergraduate studies, she said that she knew immediately that this was the way for her.
‘I didn’t waste time. I skipped a class, changed my major, and when I took my first biological class, I knew in that moment that this is what I had to do,’ Elena said.
Elena Annaleigh Wicker, 13, (right) was accepted into the University of Alabama’s Heersink School of Medicine class of 2024
Alina is in many ways a normal girl. She is a Lego fanatic, posting many of her construction projects to her Instagram account, and says she enjoys cooking, singing, going to the arcade with friends, and playing soccer.
Alina takes a power nap while working her way through some figures and calculations.
In an Instagram post announcing his acceptance, he thanked his mother for her achievements.
‘Mama I made it. I couldn’t have done it without you,’ wrote Alina, ‘you gave me every chance to be successful. You made me happy, wiped my tears, gave me ore when I needed rest, you never allowed me to settle down, disciplined me when I needed it. You are the best mother a child could ever ask for.’
Those who say that she is missing her childhood, Alina could not agree less.
‘I don’t think I am missing any part of my childhood. I get childhood, and it’s wonderful.’
Alina is a Lego fanatic, posting many of her construction projects to her Instagram account, and says she enjoys cooking, singing, going to the arcade with friends, and playing soccer.
Despite her increasing degrees, Alina says the focus is on her success.
‘I have very good time management skills and am very disciplined.’