20 Children Who Changed History By Making Bold Decisions

Kids might say the darnedest things, but they're also capable of doing what we adults could only dream of. Age has no bearing on courage or intelligence, and despite their lack of years, these children took the world by storm and changed history forever. So next time you hear someone is "too young" to do something, the stories of these incredible kids will surely make you think otherwise.

Jack Andraka

Known by some as the "Edison of our times," Maryland native Jack Andraka developed an effective method of detecting early stage pancreatic cancer when he was just 15 years old. For his work, Jack was awarded the grand prize at the 2012 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Ruby Bridges

This iconic photo shows six-year-old Ruby Bridges becoming the first black student to integrate a white school in the South in November 1960. Despite intense pushback and protest from hateful mobs, Ruby continued attending school every day and inspired countless other black children to do the same.

Randy Gardner

Not sleeping for days on end might seem more like a punishment than an achievement, but between December 1963 and January 1964, 17-year-old Randy Gardner kept himself awake for a record 11 days, 25 minutes — and all in the name of science. The sleep deprivation study conducted on Randy by Stanford researchers provided invaluable insight into the effects of sub-optimal sleep on the body.

Malala Yousafzai

Beginning at age 12, Malala Yousafzai became a prominent voice for female education in Pakistan against intense suppression from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, who banned girls from attending school. After surviving an assassination attempt, Malala went on to become one of the world's most important educational activists and earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.