Features
   articles

Back to Top

At an age when most students were laboring over introductory algebra, Samantha Stevenson was beginning work toward her bachelor’s degree at Western Connecticut State University. While living at home in Roxbury, CT, she entered college at age 12. Earning her degree in math and astronomy at age 16, she entered Wesleyan’s graduate program this year. 

"When I started school I wanted to be a vet. Then I took an astronomy course at Wes Con ... " Stevenson said. "Just looking up at the sky - it’s just amazing. I want to learn more about
what’s out there."

"I’m happy to have her in class. She’s a remarkable student," said William Herbst, professor of astronomy. "The master’s program here helps nontraditional students complete a normal route in astronomy... We were glad to accept her."

According to Stevenson, she is only at the beginning stages of her research with Associate Professor of Astronomy John Salzer.

"Right now we’re starting a survey of emission line galaxies," Stevenson said. "We’re going to be comparing data with the X-Ray satellite ROSAT and trying to figure out the properties of galaxies with strong X-Ray emissions ... [The Research] is going to be a great experience."

"When we accepted her into the program we decided to treat her like every other graduate student," Salzer said. "She has impressed me. She looked and talked and acted just like the graduate students. She is quite young to be in her position, but she has carried it very well." 

"The work is not as hard as I thought it was going to be," Stevenson said. "Next semester when I start taking quantum mechanics and thermodynamics it might get worse."

In many ways Stevenson’s a typical college student. She lives with three other students in graduate housing. She plays the drum in a band at home called the New Fairfield High School Sparklers at home. She even parties with fellow graduate students on weekends. The only difference is: she’s seventeen.

"I ignored the age difference," Stevenson said, describing her early college experience. "It was something I really never thought about."

Stevenson describes her interests and aspirations as being extremely diverse. Currently, she is also working on a piece of historical fiction about the Jewish rebellion in the 1st century A.D., and she hopes to become more involved with the extracurricular opportunities at the University.

"I’ve always been really interested in theater, but where do you find the time?" she said. "I’m also interested in politics. I want to be a Republican when I’m eighteen ... there are just so many different things."

Stevenson said she finds the Wesleyan environment to be quite stimulating.

"It’s just strange," she said. "My family has always been very conservative. People here are from so many different countries and backgrounds ... It’s different."

Stevenson’s typical day usually consists of two classes. She spends the rest of the time working on research, but she says she still has free time every now and then.

"I like the Drew Carey show," she said. "I don’t know why, I just do - just stupid shows like that which make your brain turn off. I watch probably more [TV] than I should."

Usually Stevenson goes home on the weekends. She says her parents have always been very helpful with her academic endeavors. Before entering college, she was home schooled.

"They’ve always been really supportive," she said. "I wouldn’t have made it through college if they weren’t."

When Stevenson looks back, she said she does not feel any regret in not attending middle or high school.

"I don’t think I missed too much," she said. 

Altogether, Stevenson said she is more excited about the new opportunities created by her accelerated pace.

Her inspiration also comes from a variety of sources.

"I always wanted to invent something, like warp drive or something out of a science fiction novel," she said. "I grew up watching Star Trek and Quantum Leap."

While shows like these have fueled her scientific imagination, she also says she has enjoyed stories about life in which a deeper meaning can be uncovered. 

"I always like the story of Joseph in the Bible," she said. "Or books like A Tale of Two Cities." 

Her list of role models includes Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein and Isaac Asimov, among others.

Stevenson’s opinions on the possibility of life beyond Earth are optimistic.

"If you think about the statistics, it doesn’t seem likely that we’re the only ones. I’m just not sure they’ve gotten here yet," Stevenson said. 

Stevenson’s plans for the future are as yet unknown.

"After I get my master’s degree here I would like to get my Ph.D. in astrophysics ... and then to go onto other areas of research either at a university or with NASA," she said. "I don’t know, there are a lot of options ... I’m also interested in blackholes, wormholes, things like that. I just really want to make some kind of contribution to the world."