13-year-old Montrealer gears up for University

Montrealer Haneen Yousef is 13-years-old and while most her age group is getting ready for another year of high school, Yousef is going to be attending Concordia University. That’s right – she’ll be a university student! Getting her Bachelors in English literature.

“I can’t count how many times I’ve asked my mom, When does it start again? When’s my first class? Because I am so excited,” says Haneen Yousef.

How can a 13-year-old attend university you ask? Well, Yousef is used to skipping grades, and testing in the 98th percentile in standard IQ tests, she entered Grade 7 at age 10 when the family lived in the U.S. until they immigrated to Canada in 2020.

She received her high school diploma after completing an online private high school based in Ontario, in less than a year.

Haneen Yousef (Photo Credit: Haneen Yousef)

But for Yousef, she says she’s just a regular kid. “I feel like I’m a regular kid. I love having fun and taking on new experiences. I don’t want people to feel intimidated by me because this is what’s right for me.”

Some students entering post-secondary education often decide they need a break or a gap year, but Yousef shows no signs of slowing down.

“I kind of feel better when I’m occupying my time with something that’s like bettering me… I also really enjoy school. I love learning. So I just kind of thought that doing gap year wouldn’t be the best option for me as a person,” she explained.

Yousef’s mother Doaa Abou Sharbin says this isn’t shocking for her that her daughter has always been like this.

Haneen Yousef and Doaa Abou Sharbin (Photo Credit: Haneen Yousef)

“It’s just her. It’s basically Haneen,” says Abou Sharbin. “At a very young age, she started reading at a very high level when she was just five, six years old, she started doing 4th and 5th grade math in kindergarten. Everything was, like natural for her.”

The choice to go to Concordia University this fall was an easy one, says Yoseuf – her Mother, brother, and sister will also be attending.

“I’m happy they keep me young. I can’t complain. I think she’ll be helping more than I’m helping,” laughed Yousef’s mother Abou Sharbin.

From left to right: Haneen Yousef – Doaa Abou Sharbin – Zainah Yousef – Sami Yousef. (Photo Credit: Haneen Yousef)

“She’s upbeat, always happy, always excited to do the next big thing. And so I’m really glad that I’m going to be going to university with her and have fun with her in that environment,” says Zainah Yousef, Haneen’s sister.

When asked if she was scared of fitting in, Haneen rejected the idea saying she feels the complete opposite.

“I am so excited. I think it’s going to be easy for me to make friends because I kind of feel like I’m going to be able to make friends easier at university than I would have in a regular public school,” she adds the experience will be emotionally easier for her.

Yousef says the goal of sharing her story is to show others that they can do anything they dream of.

“I just want people to know that everything is possible and that they should just kind of follow their dreams and the aspirations and do what they want.”