17-year-old Selena Cartier recently became the youngest 2020 University of Houston Graduate, and she has two degrees one in psychology and the other in business.
Cartier chose to be homeschooled since the 7th grade because she was bullied in public school for her advanced academic achievements. She developed a self-paced program working from home and she began to fly through her coursework. She always knew that college would be her next step.
At the age of 14, I just knew that college was the next step for me. I needed a new challenge, and attending college presented the perfect academic and social growth opportunity for me.
After Cartier graduated high school, she took dual credit classes at Lone Star College-Kingwood. She graduated with an associate of science degree and then transferred to the University of Houston.
Cartier experienced financial instability during her collegiate years due to her being one of four children raised by a single mother, but she was able to pay for the majority of her school expenses by selling used textbooks on eBay that she found in thrift stores and online.
Cartier credits her mother for her ingenuity, drive, and ambition.
My mom would always say you have to figure out what you want to do in life and how you want to make an impact on the world.
Cartier plans to pursue her master’s degree in the College of Education’s Curriculum and Instruction program at the University of Houston.
After I complete the masters program, I will teach college level courses while attending a doctoral program. I would like to research the impact that early life exposure to adversity has on cognitive development. I hope that my achievements are able to inspire [people] of all ages. It is never to early or late to pursue a goal. There will never be a perfect time to start a journey, but if you want to succeed, you just have to start. As long as you maintain an open mindset, you will learn on every step of the journey.
17-year-old Selena Cartier is a beautiful, brilliant, inspirational black queen on a mission, and we wish her nothing but success in all her future endeavors. Remember her name because she is destined for greatness.
Source: BECAUSE OF THEM WE CAN
