Right now, the average fourteen year old is clothes shopping with her friends to prepare for her new look as a sophomore in high school, but Thessalonika Arzu-Embry will be  receiving her college degree. At just fourteen she is finishing up summer classes to graduate on Aug. 30 with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Chicago State University.

Embry, who resides in Great Lakes Naval Station near North Chicago, was home schooled by her mother, a navy veteran, Wonder Embry from ages 8 to 11. In her last year she received the equivalent of a high school diploma.  Now, the mother daughter duo are both students anticipating a degree- the mother of the overachiever teen is working towards a graduate degree in clinical psychology.

Embry maintained a presence on campus with involvement in the School’s Honor program and as student senator while holding a 3.9 GPA. When it comes to a social life and parties, Embry is not affected by her inability to attend the 18+ clubs. She believes that a college experience is what one makes of it, which for her means studying hard and helping others (Embry often helped her colleagues study).

“My college experience is a traditional college experience for me — it is just that I have completed it faster,” says Embry. “I am very excited about joining others in having the opportunity to contribute to society in a significant way.” Embry plans to take a graduate program for clinical psychology at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago or Stanford University.