Graduate Spotlight: California-born and North Carolina-raised, Makai Branch Turned Opportunity into Purpose

Makai Branch was born in San Diego, California but moved across the country with his parents to Wilmington, North Carolina when he was one year old.

When it was time to apply for college, he only applied to two: North Carolina A&T State University and Texas Southern University. He chose to follow in his sister’s footsteps to Texas Southern.

“She was, at the time, finishing her graduate degree at TSU. I helped move her in maybe her sophomore year of undergrad. I helped move her into, at the time it was Urban Academic Village, UAV. My father and I came out here to Houston to help move her in. I saw the Houston vibe. My pops and I went to The Breakfast Klub, doing all the regular Houston things. I was like yeah this is an epic city. Then a couple years later when I was graduating high school and looking at colleges, I knew I wanted to come to a HBCU, but I just didn’t really have a good perspective on all the potential out there.”

He started out with plans to study Accounting. His father suggested he explore a different path.

“He said ‘maybe you should look at Finance. It’s pretty universal in terms of opportunities and it’s something that’ll never go away.’ As I started pursuing the path, I realized JHJ has a top tier Finance program.”

Makai was an active part of the Future Bankers Leadership Program.

“It’s a direct pipeline to a career in the Finance industry. Through the banking program, I got the opportunity to do a 10-week summer internship at Stellar Bank where I must have done something right. They were very kind people, awesome culture and they extended me the job offer full-time starting in June.”

He says Texas Southern taught him he can literally do anything.

“I don’t say it in an egotistical way, but moreso in whatever you put your mind to, it’s already done. My freshman year, I didn’t have much direction. But I’ve always had a passion and a fire inside of me. I think through meeting these people, getting in these rooms, seeing the type of potential that was there it was like hold on, I’m more than capable of being in these rooms, talking to these people and bringing value. Now, when I go into these rooms, I feel so confident just being myself because I’ve seen through the years that it works.”

His advice to future Tigers is wisdom for everyone.

“You really get out what you put in. Here at TSU, the opportunities are endless. The people are there, and they have value. The separating factor with most people is making that effort to step forward and say hey this is my name and this is what I’m here to do. And then those who sit back and decide to watch, I think putting your whole self in the experience is a surefire way to bring value back to yourself.”

Hear Makai’s story in his own words here.