A HS grad at 12, local girl will earn college degree before she’s 18

Many 16-year-olds are spending their summer break playing video games, working or studying to get their driver's licenses, but Hannah Baratang isn’t a typical 16-year-old.

"I like hanging out with friends, I like drawing, and I like petting my dog, Charly," Baratang says.

But she is also a college graduate.

"I have an associate (degree) in organismal biology, and I'll have one in chemistry by the end of the summer," she said.

It’s a journey that began years ago.

Baratang spent her summers doing full school years’ worth of course work.

"Every summer we did another grade, so let's say that in fifth grade, in the summer, I would sixth grade, so when I went back I was in seventh grade," she said.

By the time she was 12, she earned her high school diploma.

Shortly after, she began taking college-level courses at Central Texas College.

"I thought I would have to be a certain age, because a lot of things you can't do until you're a certain age," Baratang said.

But her age is just a number, she's close to graduating with bachelor's degree in biology from Texas A&M University-Central Texas before she turns 18.

"I wanted to do something in the science field that I could also intertwine with my love of art," Baratang said.

The secret to her success is her thirst for knowledge.

"There are some things, that I'm just so interested in learning about them, I want to know everything about them," she said.

"As long as you push yourself, nothing is holding you back, as long as you just do it," she said.

Baratang says she plans to pursue pursuing her Master's degree right after she obtains her bachelor's.