Why did you choose to attend Williams?
I usually tell people that I have no idea. Williams is obviously an amazing school, that presents both amazing academic and athletic opportunities. What I know now, that I didn’t a few years ago, is that Williams is truly a special place full of special people that you don’t understand until you get here. I couldn’t put my finger on it during my senior year of high school but I now know what brought me here was that special feeling and these special people.
What is the best thing about being part of the NESCAC?
The best part is being able to play in an environment with both smart and athletic individuals. We all go to different schools and love competing against each other, but there is this mutual understanding that we are all doing our best to be student-athletes at very challenging institutions, which creates a common bond and garners a high level of mutual respect.
What is your dream job/career?
I don’t know what career I want and I’m very ok with that. However, what I do know is that whatever I do must have a positive impact on other people's lives. I have been blessed beyond measure up until this point, and I owe that to the people in my life and my greater community. I don’t know how, but I will make a difference.
What extracurricular activities or service activities do you participate in?
I have been involved in a multitude of things on campus from the Residential Life Team to a SAAC representative, but the one I am most proud of is my role on the Society of the Griffins. The Society of the Griffins is the black male group on campus, which I helped revitalize after COVID-19 during my first year on campus. My friends and I recognized the lack of space and support for Black men on campus and decided to create it for ourselves. A year and a half later the club has grown in size and hopefully, the space continues to be a welcoming and safe place for Black men to be themselves for generations to come.
Looking back on your college years, what are you most proud of?
Even though I am only halfway done what I am most proud of is the relationships I have been able to build. At Williams, it is so easy to get caught up in work and sports that it doesn’t leave you much time to socialize. However, what makes Williams what it is are the people. I have formed really special relationships with my classmates, professors, and even the dining staff and without fail have learned something invaluable. Sometimes that means losing an hour of sleep or pushing work off to the next day, but I have never regretted having those conversations.
What has been your favorite class outside of your major?
My favorite class was a history class I took last semester - Civil Rights in the North. We learned about the history of racism up North after the Great Migration and how African Americans were still excluded, bigoted, and suffered from acts of violence. It also examined the techniques used by Black people to gain equality and respect like respectability politics and racial uplift. What I loved was the way the professor explained the nuance of different events and organizations and the significance of their actions and subsequent impact.
Who is your favorite professor?
My favorite professor is Professor Tyran Steward. Besides being my advisor and teaching my favorite course, he has taken the time to get to know me. We have talked about a lot and he has made me a deeper thinker. I never understood the importance of nuance until meeting him and it has changed the way I analyze everything. The relationship I have been able to build with him has been impactful, and I consider him a friend.
What internships/research projects have you participated in?
The summer after my first year I shadowed an orthopedic surgeon in a clinic and it was a phenomenal experience. I learned how to interact and listen to patients, how to draw conclusions from X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, and how to work with a team to develop a treatment plan. This past summer I interned at Boston Consulting Group and worked on a variety of Social Impact projects. I worked on a racial equity project, a food insecurity case, and a global financial inclusion initiative. It was definitely a very interesting and fun experience, and at the same time, I learned a lot. I learned how to work on a team and the importance of constant communication. I also learned how to prioritize tasks, synthesize research, and present a high-level summary.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned from being a student-athlete?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned is to compete. Football is a sport where everyone fails, everyone gets knocked down, and you have to make the active decision to get up and do it all over again. You have to be competitive to survive on the field, and also in life. Competition makes us better, it makes us reach our limits and set new ones. The competitive spirit I’ve developed as an athlete has made me better in the classroom, better on the field, and a better person.
What is something you enjoy doing when not in class or competing in your sport?
I love writing. It started as something my Dad forced me to do growing up, but has turned into a passion for me and something that I love.
