There are some people you know were meant to be in your life.
Mikel is one of those people.
Every once in a while there’s a compelling, synergistic connection when meeting someone. Similar heart passions create a dynamic collision of life stories. People from radically different walks of life find themselves side by side, comrades on the same journey.
Otherwise known as HypeManKel, Mikel’s enthusiasm for life radiates and influences the lives of those around him. He possesses a central passion for empowering others to “define their hype.”
By helping other people discover and articulate what makes them come alive, Mikel inspires many to identify and offer their unique talents to the world.
The result? A cascading effect of people emboldened with a clear a vision of what they want to be all about, bettering themselves, becoming more fully alive and blessing the lives of of others to do the same.
Mikel’s contagious zest for life flows out of a passion to encourage and empower others. It’s a beautiful thing.
His experience with facing his own hardships, staring down brokenness, and finding a path forward gives Mikel an empathy to rally with others facing unthinkable odds and devastating trauma.
Mikel strives to make others feel included and connected, especially anyone who feels alone or lacks a father figure. He wants to help the down-and-out find their voice, grasp on to hope and open their eyes to a better way to live.
Leaving negativity and destruction behind, fighting the lies that tell you you’ll never make it, the waves of pain that call you back to your old ways, all while wrestling free from the tentacles of disfunction is not a task for the faint of heart. Anyone on that brave journey towards a better life would be blessed to have someone like Mikel fighting alongside them.
Through many twists and turns, Mikel determined to find a pathway through his own obstacles and upsets. A fateful connection created an open door at Kansas State University for Mikel to finish his bachelor’s degree. At K-State, Mikel finds an outlet for empowering others through co-hosting Thirsty Thursday Radio Thursday nights 8pm to 10pm on the student run Wildcat KSDB 91.9.
Mikel will graduate this May with major in Kinesiology. His sights are set on potentially pursuing a master’s degree in marketing to advance his skills in promotions, advertising and hosting – all to further his vision of impacting the lives of others with his message of defining your hype and making dreams into reality.
Through everything, one of Mikel’s biggest sources of strength and inspiration – from his days of growing up in St. Louis to the present – has been his mom. His gratitude for her love and guidance is evident whenever he speaks about her. He’s so proud that she’s reached her goal of raising him and his siblings to be successful people and is now going back to school to make an even brighter future for herself and her family.
Another source of Mikel’s resilience and growth has come from the dynamic brotherhood he experiences in the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity where he has identified group cohesion as his core leadership skill.
Mikel is also a brand ambassador for Born Poor, Live Rich, a clothing company created to inspire fashion that promotes positive thinking and positive action in today’s society. Mikel embrace’s the brand’s exhortation to “live rich” by enriching oneself through knowledge, spirituality, emotional health and finances. He embraces a state of mind and a way of living aimed towards holistic abundance. I’m so honored to call him a friend.
To learn more, connect with Mikel on Facebook, follow him on Instagram and check out his professional services on the HypeManKel website.
keep doing what u do mikel. …inspiring others, being a true friend & a blessing to others that come in contact with you!! love you much nephew