When he was 15 years old, Barrington Irving was a shop assistant in his parents’ bookstore. Then one of their customers gave Barrington the chance to sit in the cockpit of the airplane he flew. That day, Irving discovered his dream — he wanted to become a pilot.

A few years later, at High School, Irvingwas a football star. He could have become a professional football player. But he hadn’t forgotten his dream. He wanted to fly.

So, instead, he first became a scientist, studying aeronautical science at university. At the same time, he became an airplane cleaner toearn money for flight school, and played video games to practice flying.

Then, Barrington decided to fly around the world. He asked several airplane companies to give him different parts ofan airplane. Soon he was taking off, in a plane he had built himself, called the “Inspiration”.

After 97 days and 26 stops, Barrington landed in Miami. At 23 years old, he had set a new world record, as the youngest pilot and only African American ever to fly solo around the world.

Barrington’s story doesn’t stop there. At 28, after his trip, he became an entrepreneur. At his company, Experience Aviation, Barrington is both explorer and teacher. Hehelps school students learn about math and science, and inspires others to follow their dreams.