Child genius Kingston Lawrence has joined the exclusive Mensa group. The 7-year-old genius with an IQ between 145 and 150 is in the 99th percentile on an IQ test.
This rare achievement has made Lawrence’s parents extremely elated. According to parents Deidra and Kala, Lawrence is interested in STEM, specifically in mathematics and robotics, and he aspires to pursue a career in architecture.
Reacting to this exclusive accomplishment in an interview with KLFY-10 in Lafayette, LA, Deidra said, “He’s always interested in learning new things and trying things. And so it’s just, it’s wonderful to see.”
Kala also said, “My initial reaction was very nervous. I was just like, ‘Oh my god, what is this? What do you do with that?’ I didn’t know it was that big of a deal. That his intellectual capabilities were that high, you know.”
Lawrence shares his excitement about being a member of the illustrious group, saying he feels “really good” and happy about joining the organization.
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“I thought it was pretty nice because this is probably the first or second club I’ve ever got into,” explained Kingston.
With his acceptance into the Mensa club, Lawrence now joins a distinguished fraternity of individuals considered geniuses, joining the ranks of remarkable members such as 6-year-old Chandler Hughes, a first grader from Texas who became one of the youngest individuals to join Mensa.
“I hope that he can connect with other kids that kind of have similar educational potential or intellectual potential, should I say, as him. And that he can find people that he has things in common with and continue to grow and develop. So I’m excited about it,” Deidra expressed.
Mensa
Established in England in 1946, Mensa is open to individuals with the highest IQ scores that puts them within the top 2% of the general population on an approved intelligence test. The body says it is dedicated to fostering a non-political and inclusive society devoid of racial or religious biases.
The name “Mensa,” derived from the Latin word for “table,” reflects its ethos as a round-table society where factors such as ethnicity, color, creed, national origin, age, politics, educational background, and social status hold no significance. The sole criterion for membership is achieving a score within the top 2% of the general population on an approved intelligence test.
Mensa boasts approximately 150,000 members across roughly 90 countries worldwide, with active organizations on every continent except Antarctica.
The three primary objectives that Mensa upholds are:
1. Identifying and nurturing human intelligence for the betterment of humanity.
2. Promoting research into the nature, attributes, and applications of intelligence.
3. Offering a dynamic intellectual and social milieu for its members to thrive.