Boy, 17, graduates from college before graduating from high school | News

Story by Eyewitness News reporter Megan Munro

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High school graduation is just weeks away, and most seniors are counting down the days until summer vacation or picking a partner for the senior dance.

Few are thinking of grad school, unless, of course, you know Spencer La Favor.

Spencer is a 17-year-old senior at Independence High School, which is near Old River Road and Panama Lane in southwest Bakersfield. He's also a college graduate from Taft Community College.

"Usually, what I get is, 'I can't believe you did it. I didn't even know you could take college classes at Taft,'" Spencer said.

Spencer has taken college classes since he started his freshmen year at Independence, and he admitted it wasn't easy.

"I would take three online classes at Taft Community College. Then I'd go to school and take advanced-placement classes in English and history and honors chemistry. It was pretty rough," Spencer said.

Still unable to vote, Spencer attributes his success to his mother.

"She's my biggest cheerleader ever," Spencer said. "She's the one that pushed me and said, 'You can do this!'"

Now, Spencer said he's ready for anything, even if that means the future 2040 president.

"I've got my whole life in front of me," Spencer said. "I have so much more time to do everything I still want."

Spencer graduates in a year-and-a-half with a double major in political science and business from California State University, Bakersfield.