‘They have no idea how young I am': 16-year-old Lakeland girl graduating from Southeastern University

Yahoo

24-04-2025

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A Lakeland teenager is not old enough to vote or purchase alcohol, but in a matter of days, she will have earned a bachelor's degree.
'I like to sit with my friends in the lawn chairs and just have really good conversations,' said Kaitlyn Ostergaard while strolling through her favorite area on Southeastern University's campus.
She was not always this comfortable on campus. Adjusting to college life took some time.
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'I kind of felt out of place for the first few semesters, but over time I realized, they have no idea how young I am,' said Ostergaard.
Ostergaard is 16 years old, turning 17 in early May.
She started taking classes at Southeastern University at 14 years old, when she finished high school.
She and her brother, Joshua, were homeschooled.
The family lived in Coral Springs until moving to Lakeland so Ostergaard's brother could attend college.
'He's like my best friend, but we've always had a sibling rivalry. Let's say he does something first, I'm like, 'Well, I'll beat you at that. When I turn that age, I'll do it faster,'' said Ostergaard.
Joshua Ostergaard graduated from Southeastern University in 2024 at 17 years old.
At the time, he was the youngest graduate since 1984, until his sister came along.
On Friday, Joshua Ostergaard will receive a master's degree at 18 years old.
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'He's always been my motivator. He's always been the person to be like, 'You got this. You can do this,'' said Ostergaard.
'They come from a family that just loves education and really values using education as a tool to move forward in life,' said Jennifer Sabin, director of academic advising at Southeastern University. 'This is not glorified high school. It's real college.'
Sabin said a few years ago, the dual enrollment population was in the single digits.
This year, there are 83 high school-aged students taking classes on campus.
'I think the students who are most likely to be successful in college at a young age are those who know what they want to do when they graduate,' said Sabin.
For Kaitlyn Ostergaard, her goal is a career in marketing like her mother, who is a marketing professor at Southeastern University.
'If you have the opportunity to start college early, you should. If you have the means, if you have whatever it takes, do it,' said Ostergaard. 'It's so amazing. It just makes you feel like an adult.'
After graduation, Kaitlyn plans to pursue a master's degree and eventually become a marketing professor.
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