Past isn’t Prologue: Class of 2023 graduate reflects on tumultuous past while looking forward to his bright future, center stage

Not everyone feels comfortable in the spotlight.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth for Michael Williams, who feels right at home under the warm lights of a stage. And now, after graduating from LEAD Charter School in June, he’s ready for his second act - proving that your past isn’t always a prologue.

A young actor, Michael has been performing since the age of thirteen - across the state and in several original Yendor Theatre Company, a Newark-based theater program, productions including “In the Middle of the Mess,” and “‘Til We All Free.” Not only has Michael received accolades for his stage performances, he also shines bright on the academic stage. Michael was the 2023 recipient of the Essex County Scholastic Award for Academic Excellence and he holds both NCCER and OSHA 10 certifications in construction. 

But like a true protagonist, Michael had to go on his own hero’s journey filled with sizable obstacles and unfavorable odds. 

Before becoming a member of the LEAD and Yendor communities, Michael never felt comfortable in educational environments. With the exception of math, he disliked going to his classes, so much so, that he’d skip to talk to girls and hang out with his friends. But this wasn’t the only reason Michael dreaded going to school. Every time he walked through the doors of his former school and saw his peers in their ironed uniforms and full backpacks, he would immediately be reminded of what he lacked.

“My mother wasn't working. My father left. I didn't have any way to get a uniform, so I had to wear what I had at home,” said Michael. “Majority of the time, the stuff that I had at home wasn’t even clean. So I’d be wearing nothing but jeans, or a hoodie every day. So when I was going to old school, I was thinking, ‘do I smell weird,’ and worried about what I'm wearing the next day. It's like I didn't have what they wanted.” 

Michael’s living situation at the time was very unpredictable. He had to occasionally live in emergency shelters, which not only influenced his academic performance but his mental health. This in combination with the lack of resources necessary in order to learn amidst a global pandemic, like Wi-Fi, led him to disconnect from school. But when asked, the last thing he expected was to be out of school for an entire year.   

 “So mentally, I wasn't right for school,” he said. “I couldn't focus on certain things, because I was going through a lot of things at home. And once COVID came, it made it even worse. I didn’t have the same resources that other people had. I didn't have Wi-Fi or any type of connection even trying to work. I was out of school for a whole year, just sitting at home.”  

Support came in the form of Yendor Theatre Company Artistic Director and Co-Founder Andrew Binger, who supported Michael in navigating middle school, but lost contact with him at the start of his freshman year. Binger was one of the first people to see Michael’s potential both as an intelligent young man and as a professional actor. 

“At first, it was difficult working with him in the classroom and difficult being a teacher for him,” said Binger. “And it really wasn't until I pulled him in and tried to understand what he was thinking and where his mind was at. We were able to have a connection in that conversation. I realized just how bright he was, just how much he wanted to do well and be successful. So over the last seven years, I learned that this is a young man that brings so much to the table.”

While rekindling his mentoring relationship with Binger and with performing arts, Michael was introduced to LEAD Charter School. There, he found the educational stability he’d been yearning for and began to rebuild his academic career slowly.

“My first year, I was still trying to work my way back into the swing of things. It was a slow start - I wasn't the best,” he said. “Academically, I was still struggling. I was playing catch-up. And in playing catch up, it was hard. I was trying to distract myself from stuff because I was still going through things at home.” 

After the first year at LEAD, his support system expanded, giving him more mentors to look up to and ample opportunities to explore who he could become. He finally felt the warmth of the stage lights illuminate his potential after years of standing silently in the wings.

“LEAD taught me a lot about reflection. The counselors always told us to reflect, to think about what we're doing, how that affects us and how it affects the community around us,” said Michael. “I didn't think it was a big deal at first until I actually did it. And then when I did it, I understood myself a little more, where I went wrong, and how I could better myself in those situations.” 

Michael went from failing to excelling in his classes and even started participating in student groups like Youth Policy Council and Prudential’s Image Has Power series, all while gaining hands-on experience in construction. He is forever grateful for the opportunities that LEAD has given him during those periods of frustration and desperation.

Opportunity Youth Network’s Chief Program Officer Jasmine Joseph-Forman said, “Michael has grown and progressed so much since coming to LEAD. Many of our young people come to LEAD just for a diploma and certifications but leave with so much more. Michael has truly found himself and I can’t wait to see all that he accomplishes with his life.”

Michael takes pride in the progress he’s made toward achieving his goals despite what he’s been through. He plans on going to Essex County College in the fall and then attending Montclair University’s theatre program in the spring. All the while, he will continue to progress into the person he’s meant to be—the part he’s meant to play. The curtain in a sold-out theater is just beginning to rise as he takes center stage, against all odds.