This archive report was first published on 16 November 2019.
Laurent Simons, a 9-year-old boy from Belgium, is making headlines for being one of the youngest people in the world to graduate from a university. He will be graduating with a degree in electrical engineering from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Laurent's academic journey began when he was just 4 years old, starting primary school in Belgium. He then moved to the Netherlands with his parents and continued his education, entering the university at the age of 8 and completing a three-year program in just 10 months.
Laurent's father, Alexander, a dentist, attributes his son's success to his high absorption capacity, which allows him to learn quickly and cover a lot of material in a short span of time. His teachers at the university have also been impressed by his abilities, with Professor Peter Baltus describing him as 'quite special and enjoyable' to work with.
Laurent's future plans include studying medicine and doing a Ph.D. to create artificial organs. He has already gained a significant following on social media, with over 13,000 followers on Instagram, where he shares photos and updates about his life as a university student.
Laurent's parents have been instrumental in managing his social media presence and organizing interviews, which has helped turn their son into a mini-celebrity. However, they have also faced criticism for displaying adult themes on his Instagram account, which they manage themselves.
Laurent's next chapter includes studying in the United States, with his parents planning to split his time between Europe and the US. He hopes to create artificial hearts in the future, inspired by his grandparents who have heart conditions.
