Harlingen High student graduating at 15 years old

HARLINGEN, TX ( ValleyCentral ) — Graduation season is among us and high school seniors are getting ready to start the next chapter in their lives, including two brothers at Harlingen High School. The boys aren’t twins so how is it possible they’re graduating together?

“It was never my goal to graduate this early, I mostly didn’t plan for this, it just happened,” said Ethan Mowers.

For students and staff who have come across Ethan Mowers at Harlingen High School, it comes as no surprise that he is getting ready to graduate at just 15 years old. Going back to when he was a young child, Ethan got a head start in his education by starting school a year early, then he was able to skip the second grade.

Ethan tells ValleyCentral going into high school at a young age was challenging at times.

“It’s been a bit different, I’ve always been one of the shortest people in the class, I’ve always been out of place.” Ethan said. ” It’s hard to describe unless you have been through it, but at least most of my friends did a great job of getting me used to being in high school.”

Ethan’s older brother Nathan Mowers is 18 years old and is graduating alongside him. While Nathan also had the opportunity to skip grades, he wanted to stay with his classmates. Nathan never thought his younger brother would catch up to him.

“Once he started skipping grades and I saw that he was right there I said OK, we are going to graduate together,” Nathan said. “We are pretty much at the same level, we challenge each other by asking each other questions and stuff like that we just sharpen each other every day.”

“It’s a little funny, I have been in the same grade as him for nine years I think and it’s just different,” Ethan said.

Ethan and Nathan’s academic competitiveness has put them in the Top 10 of their class with Nathan ranked number six and Ethan ranked number eight.

Harlingen High School Principal Efrain Amaya tells ValleyCentral there have been many students who want to get their diplomas early—but the Mowers brothers are unique.

“The grit that these boys have is amazing. They participated in everything that they can when it comes to academics,” Amaya said. “They go above and beyond. To have the number six and the number eight in the top 10 is amazing—to be able to walk out not only being in the top 10 but graduating with your brother.”

While the Mowers brothers are excited to start a new chapter in life, Ethan says other kids can do what he has done.

“Just don’t give up, anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” he said.

After graduation both brothers will be attending UTRGV. Ethan will be studying environmental science with hopes of one day working at the marine rescue center in Corpus Christi. Nathan will be studying music performance, his goal is to perform in a professional orchestra.

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