College: Missouri University of Science and Technology
Major: Chemical engineering
“It doesn’t matter what people think about your path. Just achieve your goals,” is one piece of advice Earl Byrd wishes he would have received.
Byrd believes in the necessity of self-expression and looks for the best ways to achieve his goals, no matter what. After completing high school, between his dreams of becoming a chemical engineer and becoming famous in the music industry, he will be searching to perfect his individualism. Someone that he looks up to with a similar path of duality is entertainer Donald Glover.
“Donald Glover is the blueprint that encouraged me to follow my otherwise separate hobbies,” Byrd said. “Being successful in multiple fronts of life is important to me, and [Glover] does it incredibly well.”
Donald Glover, or Childish Gambino, is a multi-Grammy and Golden Globe winner known for balancing his acting and music careers. Byrd also credits his brother-in-law, Michael Dyson, as Dyson encouraged him to follow what he’s passionate about.
“[Dyson’s] the reason I’ve had music on Spotify since childhood,” Byrd said. “He is where I want to reach in my life, and he’s set a solid example of how to achieve it.”
Dyson pursued a career in science to provide a steady income for his family while creating music on the side. He described himself as someone who has positively impacted Byrd’s life by simply spending time with him.
“As he grew older, he became more confident when applying himself to any activity that helped usher him into the very talented person he is today,” Dyson said. “I’m proud to say I have the privilege of seeing [Byrd] branch off into other areas of creativity and shine in them all.”
Byrd will major in chemical engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology. He chose this path because of his lifelong love of science and childhood dream of becoming a scientist.
“I knew it was going to be important to do something difficult,” Byrd said. “I had to be able to not get bored of my everyday life, which is what math and science have always done for me.”
