MSMS Connects recently caught up with alumnus Brent Eubanks, who graduated from MSMS in 2013.
Why did you choose MSMS? I chose MSMS because I became enamored with the school after attending the summer enrichment camp in 2010. After that experience, I decided to apply because of the opportunity for a more intensive education that could better prepare me for the future.
How would you describe your time at MSMS? I would say MSMS made me into the person I am today. Going from getting by on a test by just skimming notes to having to actually study all through study hours and beyond was a humbling experience. However, it taught me the skills I would still be using to this day. It’s also the place where I learned what true friends are. I still talk to some of my classmates on a regular basis.
After attending MSMS, what college did you attend? I went to University of Mississippi and obtained my B.S. in chemistry in 2017. I recently graduated in May 2020 with a MAT from the Mississippi Teacher Corps, and I am now working towards a Ph.D. in STEM education with an emphasis in science education from North Carolina State University.
What is your current profession? Currently, I am a full-time graduate student at North Carolina State University. I work as both a teaching and research assistant. As a TA, I participate in an undergraduate education course, where I review lessons and grade assignments. In my RA position, I help a professor who is currently looking at STEM integration as well as biotechnology.
What inspired you to pursue this line of work? I would say my current line of work was directly influenced by my time working for the MSMS Summer Enrichment Camp, where I assisted for about 5 years. I learned I have a love for working with students and education is a passion of mine. Thanks to recommendations from a few of the MSMS faculty, I ended up getting into the Mississippi Teacher Corps and discovered it was the right path as I was working in front of the classroom. I knew I wasn’t content with my understanding of what science education is, which lead me to NCSU.
Would you recommend attending MSMS? MSMS is a challenge, but it puts you on the right path once you figure out how to succeed there. I know coming from a very small town in southern Mississippi, I wouldn’t have received the same education. MSMS has community as one of its four pillars and though at the beginning you are surrounded by strangers, they eventually feel like family.