Written by Cyril Reinicke for Times of San Diego, Beach & Bay Press
Damian Toma is finishing all his course requirements at Mission Bay High School and is on schedule to graduate in May 2026.
What’s unusual about that is that Damian is a 16-year-old sophomore — who finished the requirements in just two years.
Toma was born in San Diego and spent his elementary school years between California and Albuquerque, New Mexico. From fourth grade on in San Diego, he attended Alcott and Hawthorne Elementary in its GATE (gifted and talented) program.
In sixth and seventh grade, he was introduced to Chinese Mandarin language studies at Maria Montessori School. For eighth grade, with the desire to continue his Mandarin language studies and a keen desire to expand his social opportunities, he enrolled at Pacific Beach Middle School.
“I spent eighth grade at Pacific Beach Middle, which combined both Chinese Mandarin and a larger student body. I made more friends than I’d previously imagined, engaged in accelerated and seminar classes, and felt motivated to get ahead,” Toma said. “And get ahead, I did.”
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When asked at what age or grade Damian began to question whether high school really needed to last four years, his father, Paul Toma, responded: “I think he saw the opportunity to graduate early, and he may have mentioned it in passing during car rides home from middle school, and I was just oblivious. I do recall Damian regularly saying, ‘Time should not be wasted.’ I think he meant learning opportunities.”
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How does someone go about telling their high school they want to graduate early?
In ninth grade, Toma took the initiative to engage with his MBHS counselor, Jo Ann Sweidel, on what was needed to make this work.
“When I first met Damian, I was struck by his maturity, communication ability, and his determination,” Sweidel said.
She has been an advocate to help him navigate all the approvals that were needed. A number of his teachers were also helpful in supporting his journey and advocating for him.
Read the full article in The Beach & Bay Press: https://timesofsandiego.com/education/2026/02/02/mission-bay-high-sophomore-to-graduate-this-may/