High School Time Machine Kevin Patton & Eric Bringardner

Muzz Ahmed is a 2014 HS grad who currently works for one of the premier players in the tech industry. He was recently part of a team that created a new Virtual Reality headset that will revolutionize our ability to connect with one another online!

Muzz was initially on a pre-med track after high school, mostly due to well-intentioned advice from family and friends; however, he was always drawn to technology's ability to create change on such a massive scale and eventually the excitement of those possibilities caused him to redirect his path.

In this episode we dive into the early sparks that inspired him to pursue a career in tech, transferable skills he picked up working in cybersecurity, the importance of seeking experiential learning opportunities, and leveraging relationships with those who can help you get started.

We have no doubt that you'll enjoy our Season 2 finale with Muzz! Thanks to all for tuning in and we look forward to coming back with new content in February, 2023.

Quinn Eberhard is a 2017 HS grad and is currently a PhD student in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at UNC. 

Quinn was an International Baccalaureate Diploma Student while in high school where she developed disciplined habits and experienced success in and out of the classroom. 
When deciding on a college, Quinn placed a strong emphasis on being able to graduate with as little debt as possible while seeking a program that would provide her with a strong foundation, knowing that graduate school was likely in her future. Quinn decided on Bowling Green State University’s forensic chemistry program, where she continued to thrive. 
 In this episode, Quinn explains how BGSU provided an incredible foundation for her PhD program, where she had the opportunity to work in four different research labs, received a scholarship to study abroad in Cambridge England, received the Goldwater Scholarship in 2020 to pursue her research goals, and was able to immediately enter a prestigious PhD program at UNC after graduating from college. 
 Quinn shares the academic and life skills she has gained along the way and shares the advice she would give to her high school self, or anyone else who might be considering a career in science. 
To what extent has she been successful? Tune in to find out! 

Kwabena Amponsah is a 2014 HS grad who is now a Principal Consultant at PayPal, where he has become an expert on e-commerce and the systems used to help businesses create a seamless buying experience for their customers. Bena's path to success has involved multiple twists and turns but his desire to help others has always been at the core of his personal mission. 

This episode title is a tribute to a program that Bena and his friends started at our high school called Black Brothers United back in 2013-14. This is a student-led mentorship program that connects upperclassmen with younger students in an effort to develop genuine relationships that lead to brighter futures. Bena had a desire to create a roadmap that could help underrepresented students in our building with navigating the challenges of high school and it evolved into this incredible program that still exists today.

We also dive into how he unexpectedly ended up at the College of Wooster, what he learned from working firsthand in a college admissions office, and how his life has been enhanced through building relationships with a diverse group of people who challenge him to learn new ways of seeing the world. 

Tune in for the great ideas that are shared as well as some very interesting stories, especially one that involves an exchange Bena had with a homeless man when he was only five years old that has stuck with him his entire life!

Brennan Whitis is a 2014 HS grad who is currently the Ohio University Men’s Golf head coach. Brennan graduated with a degree in business marketing and a minor in sports management and had aspirations to work in the social media/digital marketing field after college. However, after winning 4 conference championships and the 2017 NCAA Championship with his team at Wittenberg University, changing his path from business to the golf course presented itself due to the help from some key mentors in his life. 
Tune in to hear what life lessons Brennan hopes to pass along to his student-athletes and what steps he is taking to build the culture and attitude for the Ohio University golf team.
Brennan shares the tips and tricks he’s picked up along the way, advice he’d give to high school athletes hoping to play in college, how he’s developed strong time management skills, and how the messages from his former Coffman coaches (especially those of Mr. Woodmansee) are still central to his life today. 

Thomas Solomon is a 2014 HS grad who is now a Clinical Scientist for Bristol Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical company. Thomas graduated high school with the intention of becoming an engineer but ended up switching gears after a summer bridge program at The University of Cincinnati, where he ended up going to school and studying to become a pharmacist instead. Learn about how his path as a pharmacy student led to specializing in finding cures for deadly diseases.

We also discuss why Thomas wishes he had stuck with learning a foreign language after high school, the importance of finding immersive career exploration opportunities, and how he breaks down goals to make them more achievable. 

This one is full of great advice and we may have even started a little trouble with our final question about how Thomas would fare in a one-on-one basketball game against one of our colleagues and former HSTM guests, Dalton Maynard!

Adam Striker is a 2014 HS grad who is currently working as a digital content producer for Professional Bull Riders. Adam began college as an exercise physiology major, but his passion for producing film became too strong to ignore. Tune in to hear how three key internships with The OSU Wexner Medical Center, USA Football, and The Columbus Crew impacted his career path and contributed to the success he has found today. Hear what Adam has done to live life to the fullest, develop his skills, and produce a podcast about personal financial habits, while dodging all of the bull horns that life has thrown his way- well almost all of them. This is one you won't want to miss!