×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Boy genius's book reveals life in college at age 8

Last Updated 04 May 2018, 05:10 IST

The one thing 14-year-old Moshe Kai Cavalin dislikes is being called a genius.

All he did, after all, was enrol in college at age 8 and earn his first of two Associate of Arts degrees from East Los Angeles Community College at age 9, graduating with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.

Now, at 14, he's poised to graduate from UCLA this year. He's also just published an English edition of his first book, "We Can Do."

The 100-page guideline explains how other young people can accomplish what Cavalin did through such simple acts as keeping themselves focused and approaching everything with total commitment. He's hoping it will show people there's no genius involved, just hard work.

"That's always the question that bothers me," Cavalin, who turned 14 yesterday, says when the G-word is raised. "People need to know you don't really need to be a genius. You just have to work hard and you can accomplish anything."

And maybe cut out some of the TV. Although he's a big fan of Jackie Chan movies, Cavalin says he limits his television time to four hours a week.

Not that he lacks for recreational activities or feels that his parents pressured him into studying constantly. He writes in "We Can Do" of learning to scuba dive, and he loves soccer and martial arts. He used to participate in the latter sport when he was younger, winning trophies for his age group, until his UCLA studies and his writing made things a little too hectic.

Indeed one of the key messages of his book is to stay focused and to not take on any endeavour half-heartedly. "I was able to reach the stars, but others can reach the 'Milky Way," he tells readers.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 15 February 2012, 10:46 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT