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Growing up in Los Angeles, Michael Cissell had a dream to be successful in life. He wanted to do better than his family and through trials and tribulations he never gave up. As a graduate of Palisades Charter High School Michael worked extremely hard to get where he is today. Looking back at where he was and where he’s at now, Michael, a junior at San Jose State University developed a mind set that helped him get out of the ghetto, and placed him out on his own two feet.

When his life began as freshman in college he considered it to be hardest thing he has ever faced “I couldn’t let them down” as he refers to his family. “I needed a way out, this was just the opening passage, if failed there’s no point in return”. The expectations expected were through sheer determination and a sense of happiness, because those were the two important factors in achievement.

Not long after, Cissell became an active member in Kappa Alpha PSI fraternity, which enabled him to believe that if one can accomplish this, you can endure anything in life. By being in this fraternity, Cissell states that “being a Kappa helped me realize all the potential and creativity I’m capable of having”.

He started wrapping canes for himself and people began to recognize this skill he possessed and soon he began to wrap canes for other members as leisure in his spare time. Although wrapping canes wasn’t the only thing that Michael did as a member of the fraternity, but he also learned to not be afraid of performing in front of large crowds when it came time to “stroll”, and to “twirl”. “I let all inhibitions down and learned to be myself no matter what anyone thinks”.

Even though he joined this organization, it didn’t stop him or give him a lack in school work, he still got his work done and managed to maintain a “B” average each semester. During the fall semester of 2009, Michael decided to try something new. With no prior experience, he auditioned for the school play “The Colored Museum”.

He got the part, as “Walter- Lee- Bois-Jones”, and the “Kid”. “It was hard I’ll admit that, having to memorize so many lines became the struggle”, “I began to feel like I was the only one who kept messing up and after weeks of not getting it right I wanted to give up, but being that I was a huge asset to the play I didn’t want to leave the cast hanging”. So he continued on, but this time he went beyond and strived each and every day till the opening night. “Determination at times it takes sheer will to overcome adversity” He never gave up and when the opening night came some would have thought that he’s been doing this for a long time.

After dealing with many obstacles, Michael Cissell says “It’s living proof, that if I can do it anyone can”.