Henri and Lenny Susanto realised there was something special about their son, Peter, when he translated words from Bahasa Indonesia into English at the age of two.
Now, 13 years later, at the age of 15, he is now studying to become a doctor at Charles Darwin University in Darwin.
"Becoming a doctor is both [about] my dream of helping people and also [a] challenge," Peter said.
Between acing high school and selling Indonesian delicacies to raise funds for charity, Peter studied hard to obtain a high ATAR last year.
He received a score of 99.60 and became the dux of his year at Haileybury Rendall School in Darwin's east.
Peter said he was prepared for university life, both academically and socially.
"My parents, and also Haileybury Rendall as well, set me up really well in terms of socialisation with the other children and also introducing myself to the other students who are older … I have the skills needed to be no different from anyone else socially at uni as well," he said.
Although Peter is loving life right now, he can't wait to be older.
"It'll hopefully be a bit easier, I guess, to do things like being able to go out with my friends [and] especially to drive as well," Peter said.
'No good being smart if you can't apply it'
Peter's parents put his success down to the values they have instilled in him: quality family time spent together and hard work.
"I dare say that I have never seen any other child who works academically as hard as he did last year," Mr Susanto said.
The Susantos are a well-travelled family, having taken Peter and his sister overseas to experience the world, something which, they believe, broadened their children's worldview.
"We do travel, [but] not luxury travel," Mr Susanto said.
"It's more about providing the experience around different things, like when we go to Indonesia, we always visit an orphanage."
In Mr Susanto's view, his children should strive to make a positive contribution to society.
Peter's mother said she was "very proud" of her boy.
"Knowing that he is such a determined and kind-hearted kid, it makes us feel that we did something right," she said.
What's next for Peter?
CDU senior lecturer Dr Sufyan Akram is already impressed with his youngest-ever student.
"He's a bright young chap and has an academic background … and someone who's capable, like Peter, should not have any issues [with university]," Dr Akram said.
Dr Akram said he hoped that Peter's story would inspire others to join the medical profession and serve the Northern Territory.
"The aspiration is to expand our intake, to have more students coming into our medical program, getting trained and serving the rural and remote communities across the Northern Territory landscape," he said.
Peter plans to do exactly that once he graduates, which is set to be by the time he turns 21.
