A (very) young man with a plan!
At just 6 years old, Joshua Beckford started taking classes
at Oxford University and now dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon.
This young man knows exactly what he wants from life.
At just 6 years old Joshua Beckford started
taking classes at Oxford University and now
dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. This
young man knows exactly what he wants
from life.
Not many children in pre-school know what
they want to be when they grow up. Most
youngsters would be humoured and patted
on the head if they said that they wanted to
be a neurosurgeon. But, Joshua Beckford is
the exception to the rule as he knows exactly
what he wants to study.
“I’ve always had a clear idea of what I want
to be when I get older,” says the eight yearold who has unusual skills in seven different
areas: maths, foreign languages, history,
philosophy, IT, art and science. “When I was
four years old I decided that I wanted to
become a neurosurgeon. I am fascinated
by how the human body works, especially
the brain.”
Joshua was born in London in 2005. His
father, Knox Daniel, said he noticed his son
was advanced as a baby as he sat on his lap
while he worked on the computer. “I started
telling him what the letters on the keyboard
were and I realised that he could understand
and was able to point to each letter and number correctly before he could speak”
says Knox.
“I would like to
practice surgery
”
to
save lives
He started home teaching his son aged just
10 months. Between then up until he turned
six, Joshua taught himself to touch type on a
computer before he could even use a pencil.
At the age of two and a half, he learned to
read fluently using phonics. Then after
mastering Japanese, he started to learn
Chinese Mandarin.
Aged 3, he was able to correctly name most
cars on the road, along with the country in
which they were manufactured. He also
developed a fascination with the human
body and completed his reading of 11
advanced books on human anatomy,
including genes and DNA.
During that time, his dad, while searching for
more challenging things to keep Joshua
stimulated, spoke to the Director of Education
at Oxford University about their on-line
learning platform and Joshua`s unusual
talents. She suggested a master-class on
philosophy for highly able children between
the ages of eight and 13. Joshua was still
only six years old and the university had not
previously accepted anyone so young. But,
they agreed to make an exception and his
father committed to the idea of keeping his
son occupied outside of school.
adult, says of his father, “He bought me lots of
books and software on human anatomy.”
Joshua mastered naming all the internal
organs of the body (using their technical terms
in Latin) and can explain how the 12 systems
all work together to keep people alive,
including parts of the brain and the parts
of the body they control. Joshua also performs
surgical operations on his laptop using Microsoft Surgery Simulator. He can correctly use
all the instruments and successfully complete
operations, including appendectomy, hernia
removal, removal of a cataract, varicosis and
tonsillectomy, repair of a lower leg fracture
and cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the
gallbladder).
“I want to
help children learn
about history”
What may appear to be simply child’s play
online is an absolute plan to Joshua.“In five
years time I hope to be doing neurosurgery
and genetics research at either Oxford or
Joshua was enrolled on the philosophy
Cambridge University. I would like to practice
course and became the youngest student
surgery to save lives so that people don’t
EVER to pass with a distinction. After receiving
have to lose their families and friends.”
his certificate, Oxford University offered him
the opportunity to do another master-class in
Meanwhile, Joshua, with his unusual skills
historical enquiry on the Great Plague of 1665. in various topics is fascinated by Imhotep,
Again, Joshua, who is able to explain complex the great Egyptian multi-genius and Father of
concepts such as gravity and infinity, was
Medicine. He currently spends his spare time
successful and came 4th out of 24 students all writing a children’s book called Interesting
older than him, earning another distinction.
Facts about Ancient Egypt.
Knox is used to his son being way ahead of
his years. “Most of the time I don’t notice
his intelligence because he is just Joshua to
us. But he can be a bit of challenge because
sometimes he asks so many questions.”
Speaking of his ambition to become a neurosurgeon, Joshua, who has a reading age of an
YouthPhoriaUK
He asserts, “I am fascinated by ancient Egypt,
as the Egyptians were able to do the most
amazing things long ago. I want to help
children to learn about history.”
Could Joshua also go down in history as one
of our greatest geniuses?!
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