Worlds youngest psychologist is a Mexican 13-year-old

who is in no hurry
MEXICO CITY When the news broke in August that Mexican teenager Dafne Almazn had just
become the youngest psychology graduate in the world, some social media users asked themselves
whether she would even be capable of treating patients at the tender age of 13.
They need not worry though, because Almazn, Mexico's most famous current child prodigy, isn't
thinking of opening a practice just yet.
I'm still too young to be working, she told Fox News Latino. I need to study more, gain more
experience, both professionally and as a person.
Almazn became Mexicos most famous baby genius last summer, when Forbes named her one of
Mexico's 50 most powerful women.
I just try to be the best at everything. I want to get the most out of myself.
- 13-year-old Dafne Almazn
She received the honor mostly because of how her example may inspire the countrys schoolkids and
especially the approximately 1 million super-gifted children in a country where education lags and
excellence is often difficult to achieve.
This summer, she received bachelors degree in psychology at the Mexico City campus of the
prestigious Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM). In Mexico, people
who earn undergraduate degrees in psychology are able to get licensed to practice in the field.
Almazn is now enrolled in a masters program at her alma mater and may eventually seek a
doctorates degree.
Her graduation garnered plenty of media attention, but Almazn herself seems unfazed.
When speaking, Almazn rarely stops smiling. Soft-spoken and extremely polite, she measures every
word, clearly comfortable with being in the spotlight.
It's been a little harder with all the recent media attention, she said, but I don't think it distracted
me from studying. I just try to be the best at everything. I want to get the most out of myself.
When not studying, Almazn paints, practices tae kwon do (she has a yellow belt), plays the piano and
tutors kids.
It's all a matter of discipline, Almazn said when asked how she manages to cram so many activities
into a single day. I get up at 7 in the morning, I exercise, do my homework and study. When I'm done
with my studies, I spend time on my hobbies.
Her relaxed attitude is partly based on her protected upbringing; Almazn is the third of three
siblings. Her brother Andrew (20) and sister Delanie (17) were also child prodigies.
Andrew earned bachelor's degrees in psychology and medicine and a masters in psychology by age

18. He has since become one of the leading authorities on super-gifted children in Mexico. The less
visible Delanie followed a similar academic career and, since very young, has showed an abiding
interest in literature.
With such exceptional children, its no wonder that their father, Asdrubal Almazn, founded the
Center for Attention to Talent (Cedat), a research and educational institution devoted to identifying
and attending to Mexican kids with genius-level capabilities.
With some 250 children like Dafne now attending courses at Cedat, it has become the largest
institution of its kind in Latin America.