Asian American Boy-Genius in Focus

By: Lourdes G. Mon

 

My passion for achievements in education will forever be in my blood. This story of achievement at a very young age is truly an inspiration that is worth appreciating or emulating even just a fraction of it.
Last year, making history as the youngest American student, born in South Asia, twelve-year-old, Suborno Isaac Bari graduated from Malverne High School in Long Island. He now attends New York University on a full scholarship, where he is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics.
He is the first of Asian Indian descent to graduate from high school at age twelve.
In May of last year, Suborno posted on Facebook, “At 12 Y/O, I’m in 12 Grade at Malverne High School. Next month is my graduation.
Today we had a graduation Rehearsal at Malverne High School. I will be the first American (from India Subcontinent) who will be graduating from High School at 12 Y/O.” A very grateful son, Bari further wrote, “By the way, I already got accepted at New York University (NYU) with full scholarship to pursue BS in math and physics. It would not have possible without the hard work of my Mom, dad and my brother. For example, my dad who worked for me like a cab driver: everyday he drives me from Malverne High School to Stony Brook University (40 miles) and then from Stony Brook University to NYU (60 miles) and then NYU to home (20 miles). Even cab drivers don’t drive 120 miles everyday. Thank you dad.”
Young Suborno has authored two books and taught college classes in India, according, to a report by the New York Post. At just 2-years-old, he could recite the elements of the periodic table, and by age-4, he had received a letter of recognition from President Barack Obama for his achievements. At age 7, he lectured physics at Mumbai University.
By age 11, Suborno had set a world record by scoring 1500 on the SAT. His exceptional academic talents allowed him to skip from 4th to 8th grade and then from 9th to 12th grade.
Despite being much younger than his classmates, he found his high school experience rewarding. Suborno has received recognition from Harvard University
for his problem-solving skills and was accepted into New York City’s gifted and talented program at the age of six. He also took classes at Stony Brook University. For Suborno, physics is everything. “It’s just the cool visualizations, the funky graphs and diagrams and especially just being able to understand the message behind it all. I’m excited to embrace the college experience, both academically and socially,” he said.
Boy-genius has a message for young students. “Work hard for your dream.” He said he ‘worked his butt out’ to skip multiple grades and earn a full scholarship in college. “I think that you should keep that goal in your head —whatever your goal is — whether it’s to understand the universe or something else. You should keep that goal in your head and never step back on your work. You’re always one step closer to the finish line. Hard work trumps talent.” When applying to colleges, he was turned down by some Ivy Leagues because it’s mandatory for first year students to live on campus — and he was too young to do so.
He continues, “I want to help people around the world understand math and science. My goal is to be a professor and try to help those in need of a good resource. I’m excited to embrace the college experience, both academically and socially. Maybe I make it look easy, but it is the farthest thing you could get from easy. Throughout ninth grade, I was already working my butt off, trying to get through every single course, handle all the homework, and responsibilities.”
At graduation, Suborno was met with cheers from the audience as he accepted his diploma. “When I was walking across the stage, I heard lots of cheering, and that really made me feel welcomed,” he said. He plans to earn his bachelor’s degree at age 14. “It’s the start of a new chapter in my life. Hopefully I can finish my PhD by the age of 16.”
His father, Rashidul Bari, said he and the boy’s mother, Shaheda, are “so proud” of their son’s academic drive. Suborno has one brother.