section:news

10-year-old starts work on degree

The Washington Post

ASHLAND, Va. -- At precisely 8 a.m. Monday, Gregory Smith -- boy genius -- strode across the rain-soaked campus of Randolph-Macon College, his parents in tow.

It was the first day of the fall semester, and Greg, 10, who only three years ago started second grade, was eager to begin his freshman year. His course load of 17 credits includes Calculus I, Physics, French III and the honors course Warfare in Antiquity.

But first, a preliminary news conference. He paused for photographs and public small talk with college president Roger H. Martin, who declared Greg "an exceptional young man."

Chest out, chin up, Greg, who stands 54 inches tall, had to look skyward to talk to Martin.

"Today's one of the most exciting days of my life," said the poised boy with the mop of whitish-blond hair, whose official biography states that he plans to have three doctoral degrees by 33. "Ever since I was 4 years old, I dreamed of starting college."

For Greg's parents, Janet and Bob Smith, both 46, Randolph-Macon was the right choice because of its "peaceful" environment and a faculty devoted to working closely with students. (The school also threw in a full four-year scholarship, worth roughly $70,000.) In return, Randolph-Macon enrolled a student who already has appeared on the "Late Show With David Letterman" and whose exploits are likely to continue attracting attention to the 169-year-old school.

Greg's parents long sensed they had a very unusual child. Janet Smith described his memorizing and reciting books at 14 months and adding numbers at 18 months. In one year, Greg went from second grade to eighth grade, skipping third grade altogether and completing an Algebra 1 course in only 10 weeks. He was 7. He flew through high school curriculum in 22 months.

The Smiths have moved twice -- first from Pennsylvania to Florida, then last summer to a small subdivision near Charlottesville -- in pursuit of the best educational opportunities.

Bob Smith, a microbiologist, gave up a research job with a Pennsylvania pharmaceutical firm, and Janet Smith quit as director of her own arts center in Lititz, Pa.

The family moved to Jacksonville after a nationwide search for a school system that would agree to let Greg advance at his own speedy pace. Bob Smith later found employment as a teacher at Florida Community College in Jacksonville and now with a publishing house in Virginia. Janet Smith stayed home to be Greg's "full-time advocate."

"We've made some major changes," Bob Smith said. "I don't really call it a sacrifice. To me, every possible change is a new door to a new opportunity."

Greg is believed to be the youngest person ever to graduate from a public high school in Florida. His parents said they weighed his need to be a child against his need to fulfill his potential -- and school always came out ahead.

The Smiths have said in interviews that Greg has some, but not many, friends his own age. He plays with other children for a while but then gets bored. He took his mother to the senior prom.

In 1998, Greg appeared on "60 Minutes," the "Today" show, "NBC Nightly News" and Letterman's show.

Bob Smith said Greg, whose goals include developing space colonies and becoming president, thrives on the attention.

"Gregory loves to talk to the public," he said. "He has an agenda. It's fun for him. When it stops being fun for him, we try to be attuned to that. Then it will stop."

Greg said Monday he is ready to make new friends. "As long as the other kids don't bend my morals," he said, "whatever they want to do, I try to go along with."

Under Greg's moral code, for example, recreational burping is intolerable. He won't befriend anyone who likes violence in music or movies. Bob Smith said it is family policy to walk out of any movie after the third curse word.

"I believe I've been given a special gift," Greg said, "and I don't know how or why I've been given it, but I want to use it to the best of my abilities to help mankind."

Copyright 1999
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