The graduating senior has a 4.98 GPA and plays on his school’s basketball and track and field teams.
Barnes said he’s far from Superman and gives “all glory and honor to God” for his success. He praised his parents for their support and encouragement and his school counselor Denise James for helping him achieve his goals.
Maliq Barnes, 16, is graduating high school two years early. He revealed to
Fox news Co-host Arthel Neville what makes him succeed in academics.
“Is it your studying habits? Do things come easy to you? Do you work hard? What is it?” she asked.
“I think that those are all things that place factors in my success. But one thing that I do definitely know for a fact is that I know I have dreams and aspirations that are long-term [and] that are beyond right now in the next 10- 20 years,” he shared.
“And those are things that I want to accomplish. Those dreams that I said, and I believe that right now it’s stepping stones to get where I want to be. So it’s definitely a drive and motivation to kind of push me to do what I have to do now so that whenever I graduate college and move on in life, I could be where I want to be.”
Barnes is expected to choose the college he will go to on Tuesday and explained what he’s looking for that will drive his final decision.
“I want to go to a school that’s going to set me up with the best course academically, financially. I want to go to a school that’s going to pay me to go to school. And, you know, a full ride, of course, but not only that… dealing with meal plans, staying on campus and the school that’s going to give me a quality education where I’m comfortable,” he said.
He added that he isn’t looking at one specific college at the moment and doesn’t know if he will stay in New Orleans or not, but he does love the city.
