Tylan Barr, a former M.O.S.T. Scholar and alumnus of St. Benedict at Auburndale, is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Memphis, and is considering studying abroad in England. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with his associate and bachelor's degrees, earning a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology. He spent some time in Orlando, Florida, as a Supply Chain Associate with PepsiCo, and then a year as a Quality Control Supervisor at PepsiCo in St. Louis, Missouri.
"I learned so much at St. Benedict," Tylan recalls. "Being part of that community was an incredible experience, and it gave me firsthand exposure to Catholic traditions. It was eye-opening to see how they practice their faith and to be immersed in that environment."
Tylan's journey with M.O.S.T. was a meaningful one, even if he didn't initially realize it. "At first, I didn't even know I had received a M.O.S.T. Scholarship--I found out later through my mom. Looking back, I'm incredibly grateful for what M.O.S.T. has done for me and my family, making it possible for me to pursue my education."
A Journey of Learning and Exploration
Tylan's path to his degree took him through both Southwest Tennessee Community College and the University of Memphis. While at Southwest, he had a life-changing opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy.
"It was a full-circle moment," he says. "I attended Mass with Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica. Every day, I had gelato. Seeing the culture up close, rather than just reading about it in textbooks, was an incredible experience."
His passion for engineering and robotics began in high school at St. Benedict. "We had a robotics club, and at the time, there was a TV show on ABC Family about giant fighting robots. I joined the club thinking we'd build those," he laughs. "In reality, we built a much smaller robot with basic functionality. But that experience introduced me to my mentor Mrs. Lien Nguyen, who I called my 'robot mom.' Ms. Nguyen is no longer with us, but she taught me that engineering is so much more than just building things, There's a business side, a communications side, and a design side. She opened my eyes to the many possibilities within engineering."
Giving Back and Looking Ahead
As Tylan pursues his MBA, he also dedicates time to tutoring and mentoring younger students. "Seeing the next generation is amazing. Kids today are so adaptive and tech-savvy. When I was their age, I barely knew how to use a computer, and now elementary school kids are using VPNs! I didn't even know what a VPN was until high school or college," he says with admiration.
Reflecting on his journey, Tylan credits M.O.S.T. for opening doors to new experiences--from studying abroad to traveling the world with Pepsi. "M.O.S.T. gave me the opportunity to attend a school that exposed me to so much. To parents, I'd say this is the time for your students to explore different experiences and figure out what they love early on.
"One thing I've learned is that a degree tells you what you should do, but experiences tell you what you need to do. Students, expose yourselves to as many experiences as possible--because that's how you'll find your path and make a lasting impact."