A 19-year-old from Keller is set to become the youngest student to graduate from Southern Methodist University’s law program.
According to a release on SMU’s website, 19-year-old Haley Taylor Schlitz, who started driving a few months ago, applied to nine law schools in 2019 and was accepted to all of those institutions. Just 16 when she achieved this feat, Schlitz chose to attend SMU’s Dedman School of Law.
Now, Schlitz is set to become SMU’s youngest ever law school graduate.
According to the release, Schlitz followed her 2019 accomplishment with more impressive achievements in her three years at SMU.
The 19-year-old became an author, public speaker, and advocate.
Haley is a mentor in the Young Scholar Program, where young black women mentor and develop the leadership skills of young black girls.
“I really want to help students realize their potential even if they can’t home-school,” Haley previously told The Dallas Morning News. “I want to help families open their eyes to the opportunities that they don’t even realize are there.”
The 19-year-old is also a columnist for Blavity and Blavity U, and several of her columns have been published by TheGrio, Ms. Magazine, Teen Vogue, Ed Post, and other publications.
According to the release, Haley’s parents decided to home-school her after they became disappointed in what the then 5th-grader was being taught in the public school system.
Home-schooling proved to be an advantage to Taylor Schlitz as it helped her learn at her own pace and gave her the freedom to pursue other things she wanted to accomplish.
Haley finished high school at 13 and was awarded her undergraduate degree from Texas Woman’s University at just 16 years old.
Set to graduate on May 13, Haley now plans to follow up on her many achievements by working with an elected official or non-profit organization on education policy issues.