Diki Suryaatmadja isn't your average 12-year-old in any sense of the phrase. He's about to attend one of Canada's most prestigious colleges, the University of Waterloo. He'll be taking advanced classes along with some of the brightest students that have a good amount of years on him.
Suryaatmadja is from Indonesia, but he is fluent in English. He never took lessons; he taught himself by watching American cartoons with Indonesian subtitles. Based on that fact, this kid is clearly going places.
While at the University, Suryaatmadja will be studying physics, math, and economics as he begins his freshman year. He's really optimistic about his future there, and is looking forward to making friends on campus (even if they are a little older!).
With his cheery personality and open mind, I bet friends are just right around the corner. However, coming from Indonesia, he's got a rude, cold awakening ahead of him come winter!
The University of Waterloo is consistently among the top places of Higher education in Canada. Some of the country's brightest young minds attend class there, but they're not usually as young as Suryaatmadja.
While wearing a cartoon shirt, Suryaatmadja expresses his excitement to make friends at the university while taking his high-level courses.
Andre Jardin from the registrar's office says that Suryaatmadja was among the top applicants this year. He and his staff had to double check the paperwork as they were shocked at this young man's accomplishments and intellect. There was no way they weren't going to accept him.
While Suryaatmadja is ready for his courses, he'll have some adjusting to do to his new environment. He'd never seen Canadian geese before this very interview, and he says that the coldest temperature he's ever endured was when he poked his head into his refrigerator. With the Canadian winter approaching, he's definitely in for a change!
Suryaatmadja and his father will be living close to campus in an apartment while the both of them acclimate to this new lifestyle, including the food.
Where's Suryaatmadja's favorite place to eat in his new home? That would be McDonald's of course.
Good luck to Diki Suryaatmadja this semester, I'm sure that he will excel in all of his honors classes and make his family, the university, and himself proud for his amazing accomplishments. Good luck embracing the cold, as well!
You can see this incredible young man's full interview below.
Please SHARE this tiny genius with your family and friends on Facebook!
