Ethan Howard is a senior at Baldwin County High School who grew up in Bay Minette. He's quiet but sure of himself and his path, which he intends to follow to become an electrical engineer. To prepare for college programming that will set him up for success in that field, he is currently taking AP calculus "so I can get a better advantage in learning." He's also taking an engineering elective "so I can learn the hands-on projects and what it would be like in a group setting to actually work and have a better work ethic. And I'm also taking statistics, also just to have more knowledge and understanding in math."

Howard has always been good at and interested in math, and he has always wanted to be an engineer.

"I thought it was always fun to do," the senior Tiger said of the subject. "I always liked how it was more of a step-by-step, more systematic kind of operation."

He's more singularly focused on his STEM studies and getting ready for college this year, but that's not to say Howard hasn't spent time through school exploring a variety of interests. While he no longer plays soccer and baseball, which he said he enjoyed, he is still part of the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which attracts around 300 people for meetings in the Tigers' new gymnasium.

Now that he has narrowed his focus, with his sights set on either Auburn University, Tuskegee University or the University of Alabama, he finds support and additional learning both in and out of the classroom. And he has found himself in good company.

"In school, I usually try to get my support from teachers or friends. Most of my friends are really into STEM, so we're all really good at math. So, if I really need help, I can always go to some of my friends," he said. "Most of my friends want to do maybe engineering or some field in engineering. I've always been surrounded with people that are interested in STEM or just any kind of math or science activities. It has helped a lot. I always try to ask them for help, too, just in case if I need it, and with them being able to aid me, I think it's strengthened my liking of it.

"And out of school, usually I like to have a couple resources, maybe some family, maybe they know somebody that's good at STEM, or maybe some YouTube videos, and just other outside resources like the internet because it makes it really easy and accessible to find those things. … I usually use Khan Academy to help me learn, and those videos always help me. I always try to take notes on the content and always try to recall everything that I can. Maybe take some practice quizzes here and there and try to actually make it feel like I'm in the classroom myself at home to get a better understanding of everything."

Finding success in a field that takes determination and grit usually requires having that outside support from a range of types of people and outlets to give you a leg up. With his teachers there to help with classes and planning, friends to be there to support his passion and practice and YouTube and internet research to propel his learning even further, family is a vital part of the puzzle.

Howard said he's not from a STEM family, but he leans on their strengths in other ways.

"I know that my family are always there for me, and they try their best to help me either way," Howard said.

To further his learning and bolster his high school resume, Howard participated in the school district's summer utility internship program after a guidance counselor shared information about it.

"I thought, hey, this could be really good on my resume. I think I could get a better understanding of work ethic and how the real world would work if I do it. So, I signed up and went through the process, and I believe it really helped me understand what the real world would be like," he said.

While many teenagers spent the summer relaxing from time away from studies, Howard worked at North Baldwin Utilities in sewer and wastewater management.

"I would also have to help with water construction, so maybe we would have to fix a sewer main or water main," he said. "We'll go house to house and check cleanouts just in case if something was backed up and we had to get it. And we would have to usually fix main breaks in the road where we would have to dig it up and patch the whole pipe, which was really fun. I really enjoyed it."

When Howard is not in school and not working an internship, he likes to tinker around with hardware and computers.

"I like to just mix new things with old hardware. I like to help around with my church. I usually help with a youth group, and I also just like to help around with my community," he said.

In wanting to make himself and his community better, he finds himself busy but sure of his path. In balancing it all, his advice for his peers and anyone else wanting to pursue their dreams comes from his mother: always be a leader, not a follower.

"I've always taken account of that with everything I do. I don't try to follow anybody. I try to take my own path," Howard said. "I feel like everybody should have their own path and not follow because it really makes you unique in what you can do in life if you're a leader."