At the age of 13, Gregory Robert Smith, termed a child prodigy, is approaching his graduation from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va.

Smith began his advanced learning early by solving math problems at 14 months, reading and correcting the grammar of adults by age 2 and explaining photosynthesis to his peers in kindergarten at age 5.

He went on to graduate with honors from high school at age 9 after completing 10 grades of school in just three years. Smith will now be awarded a bachelor’s degree in mathematics May 31 and has been elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He is graduating cum laude as well from Randolph-Macon, which he attended on a full scholarship.

Even as graduation day approaches, this 13-year-old soon-to-be grad is accompanied by an adult, usually a campus security officer, at all times on the campus that educates approximately 1,100 students. Smith’s parents, Janet and Bob, chose to send Greg to the relatively small institution for the benefits of small classes and what appeared to be a safe environment for their son.

Smith arrived at Randolph-Macon in September 1999 and instantly drew attention, leading him to hold two press conferences on his first day of college, one before the day began and another at the end.

College officials said they are expecting a similar reaction the day Smith receives his diploma.

After graduation, Smith plans to proceed to graduate school and earn PhDs in math, aerospace engineering, political science and biomedical engineering; however, he has yet to say what institution he will attend.

When Smith can pull himself away from his studies, he plays sports with children his own age and engages in a number of other activities not as common to the average 13-year-old.

One of Smith’s greatest accomplishments is the establishment of the International Youth Advocates, a group geared towards nonviolence and human rights.

To earn money for his philanthropic work, Smith travels on a speaking circuit in which he delivers his self-written speeches.

“When I was very young,” Smith says in a videotaped speech he delivered to a crowd of 11,000. The crowd chuckles before Smith begins his statement again.

“When I was very young and witnessed the video accounts of children suffering from disease or malnutrition, separated from their families or subjected to violence, I knew I had to act. I was just seven years old then, but I was certain that there must be a way that I could make a difference.”

Smith hopes to make this difference as President of the United States someday, along with a number of other jobs he wants to hold in his lifetime.