Meet the youngest law graduate from Southern Methodist University

(Trends Wide) — Haley Taylor Schlitz is not yet old enough to buy a beer, but she is about to become the youngest law graduate in the history of Southern Methodist University (SMU), at just 19 years old.

In 2019, Taylor Schlitz was accepted by nine law schools, eventually choosing SMU’s Dedman School of Law, according to a statement from the university.

Taylor Schlitz is also an author, speaker, and advocate for “the issues students of color face in navigating gifted and talented programs in public schools,” the statement said.

As a fifth grader, Taylor Schlitz struggled to be recognized by her public school’s gifted and talented program, according to the release.

On May 13, Haley Taylor Schlitz, 19, will become the youngest law graduate from Southern Methodist University.

Her parents decided to homeschool her, and she prospered, graduating from high school at age 13. At 16, she became the youngest graduate of Texas Woman’s University, according to her website.

“Too many girls and students of color are left out of our country’s gifted and talented programs,” Taylor Schlitz said in the SMU news release.

“Society will miss out on the potential scientist to cure a major disease, the entrepreneur to start the next Amazon, and so much more. All because of their gender and/or skin color,” he said.

After graduating on May 13, Taylor Schlitz plans to work on education policy issues and increase opportunities “for gifted and talented girls and students of color,” according to the statement.