1: High School Sparks

Detroit taught me two things early: how to survive, and how to dream even when your environment tells you not to.

High school was rocky for me. Not just because of classes or grades, but because life hit hard. In December 2017, I lost my brother, and everything shifted. That loss became the backdrop of my teenage years — grief, instability in relationships, and the constant battle of trying to figure out who I was while life pulled me in every direction.

But I wasn’t alone. My family shaped me in different ways that balanced each other out. My mom and sister were nurturing; they made space for my emotions, reminded me of my worth when I doubted it, and carried me with a love that felt like safety. My dad showed love differently. He was more rigid and demanding, but his expectations pushed me into the mindset of becoming something more in life. He made me see that settling wasn’t an option — that greatness required discipline, pressure, and resilience. Together, their different styles of love molded me into the version of myself you see today.

And in the classroom, one person in particular made sure I didn’t slip through the cracks: my teacher, Mr. Kuptz. He saw me in a way I couldn’t see myself. He believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. That belief started to light something in me I didn’t even know was there. The discipline and confidence to push academically, refine myself, and become more than I thought I could be.

At first, it showed up in small ways: my GPA started to climb, 3.0s as a freshman. Then by sophomore year, as COVID hit, I saw my first 4.0. That moment mattered, not just because of the grade, but because it proved I was capable of more. With every AP class, every quarter of consistency, I started to see a version of myself I didn’t recognize before… someone who could achieve, someone who could lead.

But as they say, the crown is heavy on the one who wears it. With achievement came anxiety. I wrestled with pressure, panic, and not knowing which path was correct. For a young Black boy in Detroit, the stakes always feel higher. It wasn’t just about school. It was about survival, legacy, and proving that I was more than my circumstances.

By the time graduation came close, I felt like I had three real options:

1.              Try to build a business to fund my way through school.

2.              Take the offer from my dream school,  the University of Michigan, where I had been accepted on a full ride.

3.              Step into something unfamiliar but promising, Bowling Green State University’s Sidney A. Ribeau President’s Leadership Academy (PLA).

Option one faded quickly; the business wasn’t taking off as I hoped. Option two, Michigan, felt like the dream, the kind of school everyone pointed to as “success.” But then came option three. I applied to the PLA, went through the process, made it to the interview day, and walked away from that experience with a new feeling: possibility.

Even though I was unsure if I’d get in, something about Bowling Green felt like more than just school. It felt like leadership. It felt like purpose. And when the acceptance letter came, I knew this was where I was supposed to be.

This blog isn’t just about me getting through high school. It’s about the community that carried me from the teachers, mentors, and people who refused to let me give up. It’s about how confidence isn’t built in isolation; it’s built when someone else sees something in you that you can’t see in yourself yet.

This is the first spark of my journey, from high school halls to the President’s Leadership Academy at Bowling Green, to TEDx, Wayne State, BMEA, and now YDRC. Every chapter starts here.

This series, Voices of Black Leadership, is about how a young boy with little confidence began building a legacy he never thought possible. It’s about how community and leadership turn doubt into direction. And it’s about how what once felt like a delusional dream became a reality I’m still building today. Welcome, to Voices Of Black Leadership.

COMMUNITY REFLECTION

"Malik’s Journey has been one of steady growth, purpose, and quiet strength. I’ve watched him move through challenges with a kind of calm determination that young leaders in Detroit can look to as a model. He shows that leadership doesn’t always have to be loud; it can be thoughtful, consistent, and rooted in care for others. His ability to stay focused, support his peers, and hold himself to a high standard represents exactly the type of leadership our city needs."

— Ms. Suki Johal, High School Teacher & Mentor

"I always knew Malik was a very charismatic child. In primary school and during his first year and a half of junior school, he was a B and C-average student. But then something changed—he had a revelation. He came home one day and told me he wanted to become a straight A student. From that moment on, he became the straight A student and excelled.

If you read his blog and seen his accomplishments, you know that he began working at age 15 years old. He is a leader, a mentor, a real estate agent, and a truly well-rounded young man. Malik has exceeded my expectations, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.

I ask only one thing of him: that he never forget he could not have achieved anything without God, and that he thanks Jesus every day of his life."

— Linda (Mother)