13 year old college scholar

When our television camera showed up to a Calculus II class at Tulsa Community College, several students got a bit of a shock. One of their classmates is pretty unique. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Ashli

Wednesday, September 14th 2005, 10:35 am

By: News On 6

When our television camera showed up to a Calculus II class at Tulsa Community College, several students got a bit of a shock. One of their classmates is pretty unique.

News on 6 reporter Ashli Sims explains they've attended class together for weeks, but several students had no clue one of their classmates is just 13-years-old.

Hannah Berrett: "A lot of times people have no idea how old I am. They just know I'm a little younger than everyone else. But, they don't know how young." And what do people usually do when they find out. "They freak out. Yourâ€™e 13! Yes, I am." Spoken like a typical teenager, but Hannah's education has been anything but typical.

Her mom, Annie Berrett says her daughter was precocious at two. When she was five, they had her tested to see if she could skip kindergarten.Her scores blew examiners away. "it was not intimidating but it was startling. And certainly created a sense of urgency to research and learn and study how to best take care of her."

Despite arriving at college five years early, Hannah Berrett seems down to earth. And she's quick to point out her education is just one part of her life. And she plenty of time off-campus with peers her own age. Between riding and showing horses and classes with other home-school students for art and drama, Hannah says she's not missing out. â€œIts not like I'm not with peers my own age in other parts of my life. At the barn in co-op classes, I'm with peers my own age. And i don't really miss public school at all.â€

Getting Hannah the advanced help she needs hasn't always been easy. Her parents went to TCC's chief academic officer and a provost to get a special exemption to enroll Hannah. Annie Berrett: "its very important to work with the professionals around you and advocate for your child and not give up."

That attitude and Hannah's good grades have landed her on the honor roll and a best of TCC scholarship and she can't even drive yet.