At 11, She’s Graduating College. What’s Next for This Young Genius?

Alisa Perales is not your average college graduate. At just 11 years old, she is set to graduate with multiple associate degrees, marking her as one of the youngest graduates in California’s history.

Alisa’s remarkable journey started when her father, Rafael Perales, noticed her natural academic talent at a young age. Instead of following traditional schooling paths, Perales took matters into his own hands. A civil lawyer by profession, he left his career to homeschool Alisa, tailoring her education to her unique needs.

By age 2½, Alisa was already reading, and by 5, she had mastered basic algebra. Her father used resources from “YouTube University” to teach her, blending fun educational tools with rigorous study. By 8, she had completed all state-required coursework for high school, and her academic journey continued at Crafton Hills College.

Despite being much younger than her peers, Alisa excelled at Crafton Hills, earning a 3.8 GPA and even participating in the college’s programming team, where she stood out as the youngest member. She handled complex programming problems with ease, impressing her older teammates and coaches alike.

Alisa’s story isn’t just about academics. Between college semesters, she spent weekends at Disneyland and socialized with her friends. Her ability to balance her extraordinary academic achievements with a healthy social life has silenced critics who feared that she might miss out on a “normal” childhood.

However, not all of her efforts have gone unchallenged. In 2023, Alisa made headlines when she sued California and the federal government, arguing that the voting age laws discriminated against her because of her age. While the court dismissed her case in 2024, Alisa remains determined to challenge barriers in society, believing that her age shouldn’t limit her opportunities.

Alisa’s next steps include heading to university, though she hasn’t decided which campus to attend yet. She dreams of working with artificial intelligence at aerospace company SpaceX, and with her drive, there’s little doubt she will continue to impress.

For now, Alisa is preparing to don her cap and gown. Her journey is just beginning, and the world is watching to see where it takes her next.