15 and Pro: Another Teenage Girl Pro Athlete
How young is too young? Alexis Thompson, a 15-year-old girl who is playing in the US Women’s Open, is not the youngest woman playing. There are 2 14-year-olds as well. These ages are not uncommon today, either. Top-tier amateur golfers once weighed whether to turn pro or go to college. Now, the choice can be far more intricate: Finish a traditional high school or turn pro. Thompson chose the latter, and will conclude her pre-college studies as a home-schooled student - or is it golf course-schooled? Many young pro athletes, male and female, are joining teams and competing for large amounts of money, therefore jumping into businesses while their peers are barely in high school.
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Do you think pro athletes or other forms of prodigies can be too young? Or do you think they should be encouraged to start early?
Hm. Tricky questions! While I think we should definitely encourage everyone of any age to reach for the stars and succeed, part of me also wonders about the development of young teens when they are pro athletes or in other more "adult" situations quickly. I think as long as they have a lot of support and are still able to grow up as "regularly" as possible, it can be a wonderful experience. Of course, I don't know from experience, but... 
Those are DEFINATELY some tricky questions. I'm not too sure of the right answer so I'd have to agree with Clarissa... while everyone should reach for the stars and aim to achieve their personal best in whatever interests them, I wonder if the young individuals are missing out on important aspects of growing up by jumping into business at such a young age. They are most likely going to miss out on several life lessons and forming relationships that typically occur at their ages under "normal" circumsances. At the same time, they are probably learning more about business and responsibilities at a much younger age than their peers. So what's right and what's wrong? I guess it depends on the individual her/himself.