17-year-old whiz kid with engineering degree
is youngest to graduate from PSU
The topic of Asma Khanâs age never comes up with her classmates at Portland State University. âNone of them really have any idea,â Khan said.
And yet, when the civil engineering major walks on stage to get her diploma this spring, sheâll be the youngest of more than 6,000 graduates at PSU to do so.
Born in California, Khan moved to Portland as a small child and was homeschooled for most of her primary school years. She skipped âa couple of gradesâ along the way and entered an early college program in high school that allowed her to complete her high school credits at community college. Khan enrolled in PCC at 13 and entered PSU at 16, completing her final two years toward a bachelorâs degree in civil engineering.
âIn my two years of attending PSU as a fully veiled Muslim woman, I never once encountered a hostile incident or ever felt unwanted,â Khan said. âMy teachers, advisors, and classmates were the most welcoming, friendly and helpful people, and I am thankful to them for making this journey so much easier and memorable for me.â
Khan is deciding whether to pursue her masters or join the workforce after graduation. We caught up with her to learn more about her educational journey. Some answers have been edited for length.
How did you decide on civil engineering?
Because I was young, I had a lot of time to explore courses and decide my career path. During my second term at PCC, I took a class outlining introductory concepts of engineering. This class really sparked my interest, and I decided to consider engineering as a possible career choice option. After consulting with my family and advisors and taking courses in various other fields such as chemistry, business, and literature, etc. I finally decided that engineering will be my choice of career.
My advisors then charted a three-year plan for concurrently attaining a high school diploma, getting an Associate Degree in Science, and completing two yearsâ credit of civil engineering at PCC. I entered PSU in Fall 2017 to complete the last two years toward my bachelorâs degree.
I chose to transfer PSU for a couple of reasons. A main reason was that I was offered a generous full-time scholarship. Additionally, one factor that struck me from my research when choosing a university is PSUâs diverse student body. As a young Muslim woman, my family and I were apprehensive for my well-being and acceptance while being a student in a university. I wanted to study in a place where I wouldnât risk harassment because of my Muslim attire or feel insecure and anxious because of a hostile environment. And now, graduating from PSU, I can confidently say that it is indeed a university with a cordial atmosphere that made me feel welcome and valued. In my two years of attending PSU as a fully veiled Muslim woman, I never once encountered a hostile incident or ever felt unwanted. My teachers, advisors, and classmates were the most welcoming, friendly, and helpful people, and I am thankful to them for making this journey so much easier and memorable for me. Â
How does it feel to be the youngest grad at PSU?
I feel really humbled and blessed to live in an area with so many resources and support that I was able to achieve this. To be honest, I donât think I feel any different from anyone attaining a degree. Regardless whether youâre young or old, there is that incredible sense of being handed your degree. Itâs the feeling of finally making it, making your family proud and excitement to move on to the next step of our lives. Â
Do you have advice for other PSU students?
I would advise future students to have a clear vision of what it is you want to do at the earlier stages, and then following through with that plan. Itâs easy to get tangled up and confused because of the hundreds of career options there; however, it is important to narrow down your choices and discuss thoroughly with the advisors. Once you make the decision, stick to it. When the coursework starts to get tougher, that career choice will probably feel like the biggest mistake, but the key is to get support, never give up and not lose sight of the end goal.
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