The boy was recognized as a mathematical genius at the age of five. And at 15, he was already studying at Cambridge.
Now, his location and work surprise many.
Arran Fernandez arrived at the University of Cambridge at the age of 15 in 2010. Scientists were impressed by the boy’s achievements when he was only five years old.
The child mastered mathematics at the GCSE level (high school in Britain), while other children were just beginning to grasp kindergarten-level curriculum.
Arran studied for eight years at the University of Cambridge, earning the title of Senior Specialist for passing a mathematics exam.
Already in 2018, he obtained a master’s and then a Ph.D. The assistant professor became the youngest student at the university since 1773.
According to Arran, other Cambridge students immediately recognized him as a celebrity. However, this and the age difference with other students never made him uncomfortable.
“In most cases, being younger than others is not that important because it is natural for me to communicate and make friends with people of all ages,” Arran said.
However, according to the genius himself, the term “wunderkind,” which he often heard in reference to him, is extremely useless.
Rather than natural talent, he prefers the training and hard work that led to extraordinary achievements.
“Being a prodigy is useless. I think it’s all about education, not nature,” admitted Arran. Arran himself believes that his parents gave him a solid start in life.
The family provided Arran with a good home education from a young age, which he barely remembers.
This 25-year-old man proved it by his own example, choosing a more down-to-earth path as an assistant professor of mathematics at the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in Cyprus.
“I guess it’s a strange story because who would have expected me to leave Cambridge and come here? But I am happy here; I didn’t make a mistake by coming.
“Children see that if someone from Cambridge has come to EMU, then everything will be fine for him here.
I hope my story can somehow inspire people. It can help them believe that they are capable of doing the same or something similar in their field.”