BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Many middle-school boys dream of working in sports one day. Joe Petraro, however, is getting a jump start on his goals. The 11-year-old is taking classes at LSU in sports management. He wants "to focus on inclusion, development and peace in sports." The freshman already completed two classes over the summer in sociology and sports management. He said they "went great, and I learned a lot about what’s expected as an LSU student." Joe is taking another sports management class in the fall, along with kinesiology, remotely from Long Island, New York. He said his father "is so into sports and he inspires me too." He wants to use that passion to change the world. Brusly native finds purpose, perspective and joy while earning a degree from Harvard University Joe said he got into all but one of the 28 schools he applied to. But LSU was always his top choice "because they create leaders, have the best D1 sports and it’s an extremely diverse school." Joe's mom, Anne Petraro, said his IQ — 168 — was tested in the third grade and he skipped fourth. During the pandemic, Joe was assessed, he said, "and actually put in special education but my teacher at the time noticed I didn’t need special education at all." His journey to college included stops at a gifted preschool, two years in public school, two years in private school and completing fifth through 12th grades in two years, according to Joe's mother. He also lives with Tourette’s syndrome. Joe said he was bullied for being different but it only made him stronger and continues "to make me want to help others." Joe believes it has made him resilient. "Having the diagnosis was a relief because I realized there’s nothing wrong with me and kids who didn’t like me, it was OK," he said. With Tourette’s syndrome, Joe masks a lot, which he said makes him exhausted and inconsistent on the field or court. LSU basketball great Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is a new friend. "He also has Tourette’s, and he’s become a mentor for me." Outside of school, Joe said he plays AAU basketball, travel baseball, little league, track, cross country, golf and karate. He also dances and is a member of the Boy Scouts. He has many talents and plays the drums, piano and ukulele and loves art. Joe looks forward to visiting LSU a few times a semester and meeting professors. In the long run, he hopes "to be a pioneer for inclusivity in sports." "We are just so proud of him because he, at such a young age, has always had the capacity to turn any negative into a positive. He sets his mind on something and believes and knows he can and will get it, and, sure enough, he does," Anne Petraro said. Latest News McDonald’s October Happy Meals have a nostalgic surprise Family Focus: Meta rolls out new accounts to protect teenagers on Instagram 'Feisty' alligator relocated from home in West Baton Rouge Parish Body found along river, identified as Baton Rouge man wanted in connection to murder Biden student loan forgiveness plan gets win in Georgia court