Students in the U.S. have had an extraordinarily difficult last few years transitioning from in-person learning to remote schooling. But amid the turmoil, Chicago teen Mario Hoover has excelled beyond measure.

According to Fox 32 Chicago, Hoover is the first in his high school’s history to get a perfect ACT score. It’s an incredible achievement, as less than 1% of test-takers score a 36. The Providence-St. Mel high school student worked hard to ace the exam, enrolling in an ACT prep course and taking practice exams.

The high school junior currently holds a 3.9 GPA, takes four AP classes and is an accomplished athlete and musician, ABC 7 Chicago reports. Additionally, according to Fox 32 Chicago, Hoover’s involved in the school’s concert choir and debate club, and he volunteers at his local hospital and Boys and Girls Club.

The Providence-St. Mel school community is beaming with pride after news of Hoover’s achievement. Timothy Ervin, the school’s principal, described the gravity of what the high school junior has achieved.

“He is the future of Black history, in the sense that he has made history here in the present and that’s going to live on forever,” Ervin told Fox 32 Chicago.

Hoover plans on attending Columbia University, where he’ll major in neuroscience and minor in music.

When explaining what he wants other students to take away from his triumph, Hoover’s wisdom shines through, proving the future is bright for the Chicago teen.

“Doing the best that I can to boost my academic career and professional career to inspire others to do the same,” he told ABC 7 Chicago. “Because once you have that platform, you can inspire people to change the world and you can also change the world.”