On a campus as large as MSU’s, it’s impossible to know everybody you share the school with. There are people you’ll see in the cafeteria or walking out of Wells Hall that you may never see again in your entire life, simply because there are so many students. The special thing about MSU is that each of these young adults we see every day are on a path towards greatness. Since there are so many clubs and activities to be involved with both on and off campus, students find interests that may not be represented in a typical classroom setting. Some students also lead somewhat secret lives. They’re students by day, but they’re also involved in personal projects that have given them spotlight, and even some fame.
Justin Newberry is a neuroscience major who found his passion through gaming on YouTube. He first joined YouTube in 2010 when he was 12 years old, under the name “Myol” and his popularity has been growing ever since.
“My channel really took off on July 4, 2015. I uploaded a video that really got my name out there, that now has over 130,000 views and almost 8,000 likes. This gave me exposure and I went from 8,000 subscribers to 20,000 within two weeks,” Newberry said.
He now boasts over 66,000 subscribers and his channel has helped him travel and engage with other content creators around the globe. “My best experience would have to be traveling around the world with friends that I used to just speak with online. It was a surreal experience knowing people for so long and finally getting to meet them and hang out in the real world instead of on a virtual screen,” Newberry explained.
Abigail and Gabrielle Burbary are identical twin sisters who are determined to use their love of fashion as a way of spreading good in the world. The sisters created their own brand, Bella Gemelli meaning “beautiful twins” in Italian, with the unique goal of starting a brand to “feature our own designs with a unique twist so that everyone can find something they love,” said Burbary. “Carrying exclusive brands and fun Bella Gemelli spiritwear is what drives us every day. Not only that, but 5 percent of our net proceeds will be donated to Graham’s Foundation in order to support premature twins, multiples and single births.”
The twins’ mission has been well received by their sorority sisters, classmates and peers through their social media following of 16.9k on Bella Gemelli’s Instagram account and a YouTube channel that has over 3.5k subscribers. All of this support has given Abigail and Gabrielle a platform in which they can pursue their dreams while they work towards their labor of love every day.
MSU is a special school for a number of reasons, but the “Spartans Will” mentality is incredibly unique. Each student is encouraged to set strong goals both in and out of the classroom to reach their fullest potential. There is no shortage of spectacular students at MSU; Justin, Abigail and Gabrielle are just a few of many young Spartans actively pursuing their degrees and dreams. Many students are involved with unconventional projects beyond their school work and extracurricular activities. To see the ongoing success that their dedication has brought them is a great reason to have pride in being a Spartan.