When Adhara Pรฉrez was three, she was diagnosed with Aspergerโs syndrome. She experienced severe bullying by her peers but in therapy, her parents learned she had a higher IQ than Albert Einstein. With her intelligence, Adhara graduated elementary school at five years of age, middle school by six, and high school at eight. Not even ten years old and Adhara is in the process of earning two degrees at once.
The Girl with the Higher IQ Than Einstein and Hawking
To be more precise, Adhara Pรฉrezโs IQ test scored 162, slightly higher than Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, whose IQ scores areย estimatedย to be about 160 (they were never officially tested). However, before this discovery, Pรฉrez was a child with Aspergerโs who struggled with certain elements of her development, like socially interacting with other children her age. Adhara reported that she was โmade a mockery at schoolโ. Students would bully her calling her โoddballโ and โweirdoโ.
โI saw that Adhara was playing in a little house and they locked her up. And they started to chant: โOddball, weirdo!โโ said her mother, Nallely Sanchez.ย โAnd then they started hitting the little house. So I said, I donโt want her to suffer.โย [1]
After this incident, Pรฉrez became very depressed and refused to go back to school. Her teachers report that she would appear uninterested in classes, often sleeping through them. Therefore, her mother realized that the regular education system wasnโt right for Ahara and took her to a therapist to get examined. Despite the familyโs difficult economic situation, the mother wanted to set up Adhara for a bright future. The therapist helped direct her to a learning environment that was perfect for Adharaโs talents. Soon enough, the little girl succeeded in graduating from high school after only a few short years. She now is earning two degrees online, one in systems engineering and the other in industrial engineering with a focus in mathematics. Parallel to this, she takes courses on astronomy and gravitational waves.ย [2]
An Aspiring Astronaut
As if Pรฉrez wasnโt already accomplished enough, she has written a memoir about her experiences. The title is a colloquial translation of โDo Not Give Upโ. Additionally, she was featured in Forbes Mรฉxicoโs 100 Most Powerful Women in Mexico in 2019. At the time, she was working on a bracelet with molecules to monitor the emotions of children with special needs to help anticipate and prevent seizures and other issues they may be facing.ย [3]
Adhana understands the difficulties of these children because of her own experiences. When she was four, she had an intense seizure that almost induced a coma. Instead, she lost movement in her hands for a year and had to undergo physical therapy.
โBack then, Adhara followed the example of Stephen Hawking; she said that despite having a disability, that didnโt keep him from achieving great things,โย said Sรกnchez
Additionally, Albert Einstein became her hero after her experiences with bullies.ย โWhen Albert Einstein was young, they didnโt believe in him; they thought his ideas were foolish, but with time he proved them and that is the reason why Adhara likes this character,โ her mother explained.
Additionally, the University of Arizona has offered Pรฉrez a place in their school. In the meantime, Pรฉrez is studying English for the entrance exam and continues to cultivate her interest in astrophysics. She aspires to become an astronaut and someday work for NASA.
Whatโs exactly is a high IQ?
IQ is short for โintelligence quotientโ. These tests measure peopleโs intellectual abilities and potential in various cognitive skills, like problem-solving and reasoning. In short, itโs a test of intelligence (not to be mistaken for a test of knowledge). An average score for an IQ test is 100. A score of 130 or higher indicates a high IQ, which demonstrates the uniqueness of Adhara Pรฉrezโs higher score of 162
Keep in mind that an IQ test isnโt the โbe all, end allโ. Many experts donโt agree with such tests, debating whether intelligence could be measured at all. Plus, the tests themselves may not be accurate since the scores could be affected by nutrition, health conditions, culture, environment, and education. A study from 2010 found that countries in Africa had overall lower scores, throwing the accuracy of IQ tests into question.ย [5]
Either way, IQ scores canโt predict a personโs life or success. However, Adhara Pรฉrez seems to hold a lot of potential to make the world a better place. We canโt wait to see what she will accomplish!
Sources
- โ8-Year-Old Mexican Girl, Who Was Bullied and Labeled โWeird,โ Has Higher IQ Than Einstein: Reportโ.ย People. Benjamin VanHoose. November 15, 2019
- โA Young Girl Finished High School by the Time She Turned 8. Now, Sheโs Studying for Two Degrees in Hopes of Becoming an Astronaut.โย Entrepreneur. March 9, 2021
- โShe is Adhara Pรฉrez: the Mexican girl who has (almost) the same IQ as Albert Einstein.โย Vogue. Karina Gonzalez Ulloa. November 12, 2019
- โThe Mexican girl with a higher IQ than Einstein.โย El Universal. Susan Irais. November 16, 2019
- โWhat IQ Measurements Indicate โ and What They Donโt.โย Healthline. Ann Pietrangelo. January 28, 2020