This 14 Year Old Teenager Just Earned Her Masters Degree After Earning Her 1st Degree At Age 12

By Mayukh Saha / Truth Theory

While the entire world is reeling from this pandemic, there are a few brilliant humans here and there who are still creating a niche for themselves in society. Dorothy Jean Tillman, a 14-year-old from Chicago recently earned a Master’s Degree from Unity College. As we know, a Master’s Degree can be earned only after a period of research and study, but Tillman’s achievement only puts to light her own brilliance and prodigious nature. This teen prodigy earned her Master’s in Environmental Science. 

Read: In 2012 Russian Scientists Successfully Revived A 32,000 Year-Old Arctic Flower

It is natural for her mother to be enthusiastic about her daughter’s exemplary success. And Jimalita Tillman isn’t shying away from giving credit where it is due. In an interview with People, she spoke about how proud she is of her daughter’s achievement- especially the example she is setting for her peers. 

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She also provided some insight into Tillman’s success, speaking about how the prodigy had always been studying in schools for the gifted- because she found the normal curriculum quite easy. When she was 8, she started dual enrollment of classes, attending her morning classes with her peers, and high school lessons over the net at night. 

DJ Tillman received her Associate’s degree when she was 10- in psychology from the College of Lake County. And then she went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree when she was 12- in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College. While it is a slight damper that she wouldn’t be able to attend her convocation owing to the global pandemic, that is a small loss considering the success she has garnered. While the average age to earn a Master’s Degree is considered to be 30 years, this talented teen did it in half those years!

 

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So this is my week summary. Rounding out my first semester of my masters program. Co-wrote a rap with #tstar performed y @mig.cervantes at the bicentennial of the state of Illinois. Then pulled up to @hamiltonmusical at @cibcnow theater. Flicked up with the new homies @j_hasan22 (john laurens/philliphamiliton) and #erbeinstanley. Loving life. Living in the moment. Swipe 👈🏾 for the action. • • • • • #hamilton #hamiltonmusical #linmanuelmiranda #alexanderhamilton #melaninpoppin #ham4ham #blackexcellence #thomasjefferson #blackgirlsrock #marypoppins #lafayette #miguelcervantes #aaronburr #johnlaurens #hamiltonpuertorico #eliza #tonyawards #broadwaysoblack #musical

A post shared by Dorothy Jean Tillman (@dorothyjeanius) on Dec 8, 2018 at 5:02pm PST

Jimalita mentioned how they had a small party at home- maintaining all the rules of social distancing. On the other hand, her daughter is still on the fence about what she wants to do in life. She mused aloud that the way she was wired, it would be impossible for her to be involved in one thing and be passionate through it all. DJ would rather love to group all her degrees under a particular banner and make something out of them. She wants to be an independent person, and she doesn’t seem to be one who would be happy with a steady, yet tedious job. 

Read: By Solving 70 Math Problems In Her Head In 5 Minutes This 8-Year-Old Girl Won A World Math Championship

In the meanwhile, this teen with her Master’s Degree is also an author. Her book “Unlock the Jeanius Within” is available for pre-order.

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