When Joshua Suddith was just 4 years old, he learned about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how the civil rights icon started college at Morehouse at 15. That day, he set a goal—to beat that record. And now, at just 13 years old, he’s done it.
On his birthday, Joshua, a student at Hills Academy in Conyers, Ga., opened an acceptance letter from Morehouse College, officially making his dream a reality.
But this isn’t the first time Joshua has been ahead of the game. He started speaking at 9 months, reading at 18 months, and had already written a book by age 3. Now, he’s racking up college acceptance letters from HBCUs like Miles College, Tennessee State University, Shaw University, and Jackson State University. But for Joshua, Morehouse has always been the goal.
Even with this major achievement, he’s taking a strategic approach—deferring his admission for a year so he can officially graduate high school. That means he’ll still start Morehouse at 14, beating Dr. King’s milestone. Until then, he’s not slowing down. Joshua is already earning college credits at Augusta Technical College, where he holds a 3.88 GPA and has completed 27 credit hours.
His academic ambitions don’t stop there. Joshua plans to study international relations and has also applied to schools like Harvard, Georgia Tech, and Yale. Regardless of where he ends up, one thing is clear—this young scholar is destined to make an impact.
“I am driven by a passion for learning and making a positive impact in the world,” he said.
His parents couldn’t be prouder. His mom, Chaundra Suddith, admires his perseverance, saying, “His grit and determination are the most impressive things about him. He didn’t let challenges get in the way of his dream.”
Now, what those challenges are, she didn’t say—but let’s be real, most 13-year-olds are worried about beating a video game, not making history. While some kids are dodging streetlights before curfew, Joshua is tackling AP-level coursework and probably being the smartest person in most rooms he walks into. But don’t get it twisted—he’s still a regular kid who enjoys basketball and playing the piano.
His dad, Joshua Sr., is equally proud, saying, “As my namesake, Joshua truly makes me proud. I pray he always keeps God first.” Because if there’s one thing a Black parent will do, it’s remind you to keep the main thing the main thing.
No matter what’s next, Joshua Suddith is proof that when you set your sights high and put in the work, greatness is inevitable—even at 13.
