CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – I don’t know about you, but when I was 10 years old, college was the last thing on my mind. I was more interested in playing with my friends at recess and catching up on the latest episode of “That’s So Raven.”
That’s not the case for Linda Pistun, a bona fide genius who’s currently earning college credits at the University of Virginia. Wise beyond her years, this 10-year-old already has life figured out, something that can’t be said even for some adults (myself included).
“I want to be an astrophysicist because it combined my four favorite things, astronomy, chemistry, physics and mathematics, and I want to go to UVA for college and then Caltech for grad school.”
Instead of worrying about the latest toy or what’s going down on Disney Channel, Linda would much rather have her head in the books, specifically college textbooks. You can find her on Grounds five days a week as she learns Mandarin alongside classmates almost twice her age.
And that’s not all, either.
She’s also the author of a book called “Linda and the Mysterious Footprints.” The children’s book talks about decreasing our carbon footprint and how each and every one of us can work toward bettering the environment.
So, what’s it like to be the youngest person in a college-level class, anyway?
“Well, to be totally honest, I’m kind of used to it. All these years I’ve always been the one to walk in the room and be asked ‘Are you supposed to be here? Are you lost?’” said Pistun, who stands 53 inches tall. “I just find it kind of funny.”
Talk about making your parents proud!