While most 13-year-olds are wrapping up middle school, Andrew Stewart is adding another college degree to his list. Andrew recently walked the stage at TCU’s first-ever ceremony dedicated solely to graduate students, earning a Master of Liberal Arts degree as one of the university’s youngest graduates ever.
A lifelong learner with a passion for history, creativity and ballet, the MLA program gave Andrew the freedom to explore a wide range of academic interests — from history and music to creativity and cultural studies — while still leaving room for ballet, friends and fun. Through the MLA, he found a space to learn deeply, think creatively and connect ideas across disciplines, all while achieving an extraordinary milestone at an early age.
In this Q&A, Andrew shares what inspired him to start the MLA program, how he balanced graduate school with life as a teenager and the lessons and projects that left a lasting impression.
What was your journey to earning this degree like, and how did your family help you along the way?
I have always loved learning. I completed a kindergarten curriculum in a month when I was 3. When I was 7, I was very interested in Civil War history. My parents realized that I knew a lot more about it than either of them. So, to allow me to learn more, they enrolled me in an online college-level Civil War history class. I did great, I loved it, and I never looked back. Because so many things were on hold, I completed a lot of undergrad during COVID. I'm very driven and self-motivated with things that I enjoy. It's a challenge, but it's the good kind of challenge where you feel like you've really accomplished something. My parents, sister and grandparents have always cheered me on in every aspect of my life.
What inspired you to start the MLA program at such a young age? Was there anything specific that drew you to the liberal arts program?
I completed my bachelor's, and I wanted to keep learning. My family and I researched many different schools and programs. In undergrad, there's some choice with classes but there are many required courses. I was drawn to TCU's MLA program because of the wide variety of interesting classes that allowed me a lot of choice to learn deeply about things that sparked my interest. I found many programs that were very focused on a specific career field, but I could not find any other program that offered the academic freedom that the MLA program does.
What was your favorite class or project in the MLA program, and why?
I thoroughly enjoyed all my classes. Ms. (Colleen) Mallette's Classical Music in Film and Music as a Protest classes challenged me creatively. I became a better writer with Dr. (Steve) Sherwood's Reading and Writing Nature class and discovered I enjoy British music with Dr. (David) Buyze's British Music and Memoir class. My favorite project was in Dr. (Dusty) Crocker's Creativity, Imagination, and Innovation class. My group members were fantastic and we created a very interesting final project.
How did you balance your coursework with everything else a 13-year-old does?
Besides school, my other main activity is ballet. Ballet has taught me to be very disciplined and manage my time well. This definitely helped with completing grad school and allowing me to have time for things like hanging out with friends, going to sports games and concerts.
What’s one thing you learned in the program that surprised you or changed how you see the world?
The MLA program taught me to see the world in all its layers. For example, in Dr. (Danny) Rodriguez's Rhetoric of Hip Hop class, I was able to better understand Eazy-E by evaluating his lyrics in the context of current events. It became more meaningful by considering multiple angles.
What’s next for you after graduation?
This summer, I'm going to train at Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. In the fall, I'm returning to BalletMet Academy, where I'll continue to pursue becoming a professional dancer. Academically, I plan to pursue further education that will continue to allow me to learn deeply. Long term, I will probably be involved in arts administration, so I also plan to investigate education to support that goal.
