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Teen Gets High School & College Diploma In The Same Week

MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- It's that time of year when students all across the country will be celebrating high school and college graduations. One South Florida girl will get a diploma from both in the same week and she is only 16-years old.

Grace Bush already has her bachelor's degree from college but she doesn't have a high school diploma yet.

"It's kind of weird that I graduated college before high school," said Grace Bush.

The teen from Hollywood earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice Friday morning from Florida Atlantic University.

She did it with a 3.8 grade point average and completed the four-year degree in just three years.

"I started when I was 13 at Broward College and I also took my classes throughout the summer, so I was able to finish it before four years," said Grace Bush.

Grace will get her high school diploma on May 9th from Florida Atlantic University high school.
The institution's dual enrollment program allows high performing high school students to earn credit for the same courses towards their college degree and save thousands of dollars in tuition at the same time.

Grace's parents wanted their nine children to earn college credit in high school because they can't afford to send all of their kids to college. Their mother, who home schooled all the kids knew early on, Grace had a knack for learning.

"At two years old, she was already reading and I was totally shocked," said Grace's mother, Gisla Bush.

Grace is the third oldest in the Bush family.

"My two older sisters are doing it and I'm the third to do it. My oldest sister already graduated and my second oldest sister is graduating in the summer," said Grace Bush.

The new college graduate said she'll be pursuing a master's degree this fall, and then going to law school.

"I would eventually like to become chief justice of the United States," said Grace Bush.

During her spare time she plays the flute in two orchestras and that keeps her busy but she says she will finally take a little break during the summer.

"To study for the LSAT, so I can get as high a score as possible, so hopefully I can get a full ride into a good school, law school," said Grace Bush.

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