UBC student graduates at 18-years-old

The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) youngest graduate from the spring term is the same age that many would start post-secondary.

Floria Gu completed her undergraduate degree in computer science at just 18 years old.

Originally from Burnaby, Gu first started university at the age of 14 — a time when other kids her age would still be in the early stages of high school.

She was able to get early entrance to UBC through the University Transition Program, an accelerated program in which she completed five years of high school in just two years.

Gu says that experience didn’t come without challenges, though.

“My high school, in particular, was very small — it was only 20 people. So, the challenges that I faced were more social than academic, and it was mostly in the first couple of years,” she told CityNews.

“I didn’t experience going to high school, moving out, doing all that stuff … so I had a little bit of a hard time.”

Although attending and graduating from university at such a young age is an incredible accomplishment, Gu says her age isn’t something she’s always advertised.

“Prior to this, I haven’t really let anybody know explicitly about my age because people sort of just assumed,” she said.

“Being the youngest graduate doesn’t make the proudest. In some cases, age is just a number.”

Moving forward, Gu isn’t done on her university journey just yet. She says she isn’t 100 per cent sure what she wants to do in the future, but next on her list will be working towards a Master’s degree in Computer Graphics in September.

“In the ideal case, I’d like to become a developer … working in animation or game development.”

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Gu says she wasn’t sure what to study at first, but with her father being a software engineer, she says it really helped lay down a path. She adds she couldn’t be happier with her choice.

“My parents have always been very supportive. You look at me, I’m Asian, you always think Asian parents can be very strict, but they were never that way. They were pushing me to do my best and they were the reason why I attempted to come to university early,” she said.

Gu will cross the stage and make it all official on May 30.

“The accomplishments I’ve made, the things I’ve learned along the way are what make me happiest.”