At the age whenmost college students are still trying to figure out their major, 19-year-oldMisty Reed is a graduate student seeking her doctorate in math and scienceeducation and a masters in biology concurrently.
Reed receivedher undergraduate degree in biology from Prairie View A&M college in 2002at age 17.
Graduating at anearly age is nothing new for the exceptional student who went from the third tothe sixth grade and then back to the fourth when her father thought it would bea bad idea for his young daughter to be around the olderchildren.
Herparents knew from the beginning that their youngest daughter was gifted.
”We knewfrom kindergarten that she was smart,” said Anna Reed, her mother who is aprofessor at Grambling State University.
Ashley Reed, whois also a graduate student at Southern, likes to take credit for helping heryounger sister adapt to being comfortable in the “older” environments heracademic pursuits have placed her.
”I wouldtake Misty with me where ever I would go, so that she would be used to beingaround older people” Ashley Reed said.
It’s never allwork and no play for Misty Reed.
Throughout hercollegiate career she has found time to join several organizations.
While attendingPrairie View A&M College she played on the softball team and became amember of the Eta Beta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Reed hopes touse her last year of eligibility to play for the Lady Jags softball team.
She is currentlya member of the Baton Rouge Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta.
“Even with mybusy schedule I hope that I can become a more active person on Southern’scampus,” Reed said.
After sheobtains her PhD., Reed wants to become a college professor and then move on tobecome the chancellor of an HBCU.
Coming from afamily of educators and having the maturity to deal with her rapidadvancements, Reed hopes to inspire young students and prepare them to beeducated adults.
”On manycollege campuses the professors are much older than their students and can’trelate to them. When I start teaching, I will be the same age as my students andwill be able to share my love of knowledge.”
