At just two years old, Lucas Rivera stunned his family by reading independently and asking probing questions about world affairs. By five, he could identify countries on a globe and discuss their populations and economies. Now 12, the seventh-grader at Lakeside Academy boasts an IQ of 146, placing him in the 99.9th percentile and well within what experts consider the genius range.
“I scored an IQ of 146, which puts me in the extremely high gifted range in the 99.9 percentile,” Lucas said.
Lucas’s mother, Maria Rivera, recognized early on that her son was not a typical child. She vividly recalls him, barely a toddler, grilling her about global development and history.
“When he was two, he was already reading and asking really big questions about how the world works,” Maria recalled. “I remember thinking I needed to study up just to answer him, but half the time, he already knew the answers.”
Prompted by these early signs of advanced intellect, Maria took Lucas to a specialist, who recommended an IQ test. The results confirmed what his parents had suspected all along.
Born in Colombia, Lucas is fluent in Spanish and English, and is currently studying German. He has set his sights on learning Arabic, Russian, and Mandarin next.
At Lakeside Academy, Lucas has founded an economics club and regularly shares short educational videos on social media, where he discusses global events, economics, and geopolitics.
“I really enjoy learning about important issues happening in the world right now,” Lucas said. “Economics and geopolitics fascinate me. I always want to understand how the world works.”
Lucas aspires to attend Yale University to study law, but his ambitions extend far beyond a legal career. He hopes to return to Colombia to help tackle the nation’s economic and political challenges.
“I want to help fix the economic situation in Colombia, because it’s driving people to leave for other countries,” Lucas explained. “There’s a big Colombian diaspora, especially in the United States. I want to fight corruption, address political issues, and give people hope that Colombia can start a new chapter.”
Lucas’s parents, both former general surgeons, left Colombia and settled in Oakwood, where they transitioned to entrepreneurship, opening a Colombian restaurant. The Riveras credit their faith and the warm embrace of the Oakwood community for their successful new start.
