Salenah Cartier’s only competitor is herself!
For the second year in a row, Salenah Cartier is the youngest graduate from the University of Houston (UH).
She was just 17 years old when she became the university’s youngest graduate, with a degree in psychology and business.
After getting her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the college of education, Salenah Cartier has done it once again.
Cartier, as previously reported by AfroTech, has been home-schooled since the sixth grade after being bullied by her friends for her academic achievements.
She joined a self-paced homeschooling program throughout her preteen years, allowing her to complete her education at her own pace.
Cartier was 14 years old when she graduated from high school.
“I often wondered ‘why me?’ Why was I always being picked on? Why did I have to switch schools? But, looking back I understand why it was me,” Cartier shared in a post on Instagram. “Sometimes you have to go through experiences to build perspective and character. I can truly say that those terrible experiences pushed me to always work the hardest, always seek new ventures, and always remain grateful for what I currently have. Everyone told me that things would get better eventually, and I never believed them. Well, thankfully, I was wrong.”
Cartier’s peers didn’t realize she was so young when she first started at UH.
“No one knew how old I was,” she revealed in an interview with ABC13. “Actually, no one knew. So, I was able to blend in. I made quite a few friends. I believe my college experience was pretty normal actually.”
Due to the epidemic last year, she was unable to complete her degree, but this time was different.
“While I was recognized last year as the youngest graduate for my bachelor’s degree, the graduation took place online,” she continued in the post. “Being in person this year was a surreal experience.”
Cartier began reading at the age of two and has exhibited exceptional academic ability ever since. She could solve complex math problems independently by the age of three.
The Houston native tested intellectually at an eighth-grade level at the age of seven. Her mother is credited for encouraging her to pursue an unusual educational route.
“When I began my graduate education, I really had no idea what to expect,” Cartier said of her most recent accomplishment. “I just knew that I was up for the challenge. I actually recall being told that my plan of completing a two-year program in a single year beginning in the Spring semester was insane and simply wasn’t possible (which would have been true if I didn’t take 5 courses during my first semester). Well, not only was I able to achieve my goal, but I was also able to obtain and maintain a 4.0 GPA.”
