In 2005, Thomas graduated from Michigan with his Masters but continued to study for his Ph.D. While at Michigan, he continued to focus on mentoring and inspiring others, focusing largely on helping high-risk, minority students stay on track with their studies. He earned his Masters at Michigan State UniversityĪfter graduating from Oakwood, Thomas took a fellowship at Michigan State University to complete his masters in K-12 Administration with an emphasis in Educational Leadership. After 12 years of study, Thomas graduated from Oakwood in 2001. “He told me I had an untapped gift that if tapped into, would save lives!” The preacher’s advise motived Thomas to go back to school, earn his GED, and eventually enroll at Oakwood University. “He really just spoke life into me at a time when I was lost,” Thomas said. It was while living on the streets that Thomas met a preacher that changed his life for good. Eventually, his home life became too much to bear, leading Thomas to drop out of school and, for want of anywhere else to go, living homeless on the streets of Detroit for almost 2 years. He was homeless as a teenagerĪfter discovering the truth about his family, Thomas began getting into serious arguments with his mother, aunts, stepfather and anyone else who happened to cross his path. I just want to catch every 12 or 13-year-old and say it’s okay that your old dude wasn’t in your life.” 2. “I was on the block angry, and because of that anger, I made some really crazy decisions. Overnight, he went from a happy kid to a deeply troubled teenager with an equally troubled relationship with his family. After discovering at 12 years old that the man who had raised him as his own was not, in fact, his father, Thomas’ world was turned upside down. Thomas was born in Detroit Michigan to a single, teenage mom. As someone who himself dropped out of school as a teenager, only to return at a later stage to earn his Ph.D., Thomas has been inspiring millions of at-risk students to stay at school thorough Advantage, the nonprofit he founded while he was still a junior at college. His YouTube channel has made him a household name, while his inspirational biographies (5 down and counting) has made him a millionaire. The field in question is motivational speaking: whether its athletes, millionaires, businesspeople, politicians, or just your Average Joe, Thomas has motivated them all. Eric Thomas (affectionately known as either ET or the hip-hop preacher) is that rare thing: someone who managed to overcome family problems, poverty, and even homelessness to become one of the most successful leaders in his field.