Douglas Brown modestly contests that “there?s nothing very special about me,” although the 14-year-old is a unique student in his first semester at Sacramento State.

Brown may seem like a run-of-the-mill teenager. He towers at 6-foot-3-inches, with long, wavy dark hair, wearing wide-legged jeans and a button-up short-sleeve shirt.

When he?s not tinkering with his computer, playing video games or listening to Limp Bizkit, he can be seen with his nose stuck in a Harry Potter novel or heard playing the bagpipes.

During his typical lunch, consisting of a vegan crepe and fresh fruit freeze, he discusses what makes him an animal activist and a technology addict, while many 14-year-olds worry what they?ll wear on the first day of high school.

Brown graduated from high school last year with a 4.8 GPA from a special home-study program. At the age of 10, his test scores were so high he qualified for the gifted students program at Stanford, and he has excelled ever since, finishing seven grades in four years.

Last year, Brown attended American River College, receiving As in all of his classes. He remembers a conversation he had with one of his professors, who said, “Don?t forget to call me when you are the C.E.O. of some big company, and then, please, offer me a job.”Already in his first semester at Sac State, he notices a difference in the caliber of education.

“People don?t go to sleep during classes like they would at ARC. The atmosphere here is a lot more intellectual,” he said. Brown finds his current history, math and seminar courses challenging. He is considering becoming a history major, though he is still undeclared. Brown?s schedule differs from that of friends his age, who wake up early to get to school while he attends classes three days a week.

“I do regret missing out on all of the social things that come along with high school: dances, friendships, clubs and sports. But I am glad to be in a more mature, diverse and educational environment,” Brown said.

This prodigy already has strong convictions on a wide variety of political issues. Not only is he a devout vegan and animal rights activist, but he?s also affiliated with such organizations as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Animal Protection Agency.

Brown is pro-war. He believes the Vietnam War was fought for “the right reasons” and justifies United States? actions in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.

“Most of my family is in the military, so I guess that?s where I get this kind of mentality. I was also taught to be extremely open-minded,” he said.

Brown points to a picture of two F-16 jet fighters on the front page of the New York Times. “That?s what I wanted to be for most of my childhood?a jet pilot,” he said.

Brown, who was formerly in the Civil Air Patrol, can explain how being a jet pilot is completely different than the movie “Top Gun” portrays it to be.

“That movie is totally incorrect. They would never be joking around like that in the aircraft,” said Brown. “There would never be rivalries between different flight teams and they would never fly so close to one another.”

Brown had to quit the Civil Air Patrol when he grew over the six-foot height restriction.

After Brown receives his B.A. from Sac State, he hopes to enter Stanford Law School and become a lawyer.

For now, Brown is content to live with his mother and mentor, Devon Brown, who practices law in Carmichael.

“He?s not allowed to move out yet. He?s only 14,” she said. He?d like to be on his own, however, once he turns 18.

Brown, having achieved much for one so young, attributes everything to luck, hard work and curiosity.

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