E’leese Shelton, a remarkable 12-year-old girl from Tallahassee, Florida, has captured national attention by graduating from high school at an astonishingly young age.
Her extraordinary journey is a testament to her intelligence, determination, and the unwavering support of her family and community.
E’leese’s mother recalls her daughter’s early signs of brilliance.
“I got her a LeapFrog tablet, and we didn’t realize she was self-taught until it was guiding her through uppercase and lowercase letters. She knew it all without any formal teaching,” she said.
By age 3, E’leese could read, and by age 4, she was solving math problems with ease.
Reflecting on her achievement, E’leese told WDBJ7:
“It’s just kind of surreal. I believe it’s mostly because of my support system, like my friends, my mom, my church community.”
This strong foundation helped her excel academically, leading to her early high school graduation.
E’leese’s academic success is part of a family tradition of excellence. Her older brother, E’ven, graduated high school at 16, and their friendly rivalry pushed E’leese to set her own remarkable goals.
“She told him that she was going to outdo him,” their father, Fred, shared. “So she stuck to her word.”
E’ven, brimming with pride for his sister, said:
“The best thing that you could hope for somebody that you love is for them to do something better than you. That’s just what we hope for the next generation.”
Looking ahead, E’leese plans to attend Tallahassee Community College before transferring to Florida State University to pursue her dream of becoming a pediatrician. She aims to begin medical school by the time she is 16 or 17 years old.
“I feel excited to go on and embrace that journey,” E’leese shared, embodying the spirit of ambition and resilience.
Her story not only inspires but also highlights the boundless potential within every young mind when nurtured with love and support.
