KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT)-- Meghan McCarty is only 9 years old and deals with autism and cerebral palsy but she doesn't let her disabilities hold her back.

In early February she won the Dogwood School Elementary spelling bee and now she's planning to achieve an even bigger dream; college.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center welcomed her on Tuesday to visit the College of Pharmacy. She says her ultimate ambition is to be a pharmacist and a lawyer who specializes in exposing drugs with harmful side effects.

An ambitious goal that most 9 year old kids wouldn't take advantage of at such an early age; however, her trip to the college is a way to prepare for the future.

Her mother, Tiffiany McCarty said "We always tell her that she's an AmeriCAN not an AmeriCANNOT and with her determination there's no stopping her."

As for her next goal-- win the State Spelling Bee and go on to the National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C.