The Williams Way

Even before entering its gates as an inducted student and seamlessly transforming her passions into action, a fierce sense of duty and leadership with regards to the Spelman College Community pulsated through Sarah Williams’s veins. The summer before her freshman year began in 2021, she gathered a group of more than 70 of her fellow Ethel Waddell Githii Honors program peers for a virtual book club, after noting their emotional state and quickly developing an enriching solution that would make space for connection and intellectual cultivation.

Sunrays beam upon the Manley patio, and cherry blossom petals seem to dance while falling down from the tree and upon Williams’s face and hair as she reflects upon the initiative she took four years ago and laughs. “I don’t even like to read,” Williams says. “I did it because it needed to be done—people were scared of Dr. Hite, and I came up with the club as a solution.”

This thoughtful, methodological approach is one that has extended throughout Sarah’s experience at Spelman College. As she has flowed through a myriad of different communities and organizations, she’s remained steadfast in her commitment to excellence in all of its forms. For Williams, it is not enough to be present—precision is required to drive the type of results that satisfy her. The self-defined introvert is careful with her comments, and she remains comfortable yet composed.

Throughout our conversation, she is a vision of the type of confidence that one only possesses after a considerable amount of time spent reflecting and refining one’s sense of self. “When I entered Spelman, I came in with the intention of being Valedictorian,” Williams said. “However, as time went on, I found myself getting lost in all of these things that I didn’t really care about and really had to stop and realize that I wasn’t getting paid to be here and that I had the power to design my dream experience.”

Williams’ road to 350 Spelman Lane was not paved with true blue aspirations or dreams dotted by crisp white dresses and an interest in emulating the school’s iconic traditions. While she is Spelman legacy, what drew her to the institution was not a sense of reverence for its history or community, but rather a practical understanding of its formidable reputation within both the professional and academic world beyond its gates. The fact that the school had maintained its position as the number one HBCU according to the U.S. News and World Report was exciting, and the fact that there was a program that would allow her to graduate in just three years with her desired degree and instantly put her on track to complete the next phase of her education was thrilling.

“People ask me all the time why I came to Spelman, and the answer is a quick and easy one that’s based in business—what I’ve found myself pondering more often than not is why exactly I stay and continue to choose this space,” Williams says. After two years at the institution, Sarah decided to leave the 3+3 program that drew her to the college and instead dig her feet deeper into soil that was rich with opportunities and contained sprawling, interconnected roots that over time shot up into daylight and revealed a sturdy, yet dynamic, and alive plant from which she is now enjoying the harvest. Of all its blooms, sisterhood is clearly the one she has come to cherish beyond all others—her adoration for her community and the individuals that she has encountered, mentored, and grown alongside is evident. When speaking about her friends, line sisters, residents, role models, and even just Spelman siblings that she has observed, the timbre in Williams’s voice warms considerably. As an eldest daughter with a singular brother, this campus is the first place where she has experienced the sheer vitality that accompanies true sisterhood. “When I came here and saw so many people so clearly grounded in a love of community, I discovered that I wanted to emulate that,” Williams said. “It’s really been the most beautiful thing, getting to be poured into while also pouring into others.”

All of these experiences not only impacted Williams’ approach to relationships but also how she oriented her steps and made decisions within spaces where she had influence. Before attending the school, Williams viewed leadership as a concept that required a heightened sense of activity in order to garner the achievements she desired. When entering new rooms, she would bee-line straight to all of its tasks and turn her critical eye upon different facets that could be changed in order to optimize results and improve efficiency. Spelman encouraged her to slow down. With all of its dynamic organizations and diverse interpretations of what community is and how it can be realized within a young person’s life, this campus has completely restructured the value system that Williams moves through the world with. “I feel so much more comfortable and safe as a leader here because most of everything that I do is rooted in community,” Williams says.

Even during moments of reflection, you can almost hear gears turning within Williams’ head, considering and evaluating new ways to improve, inspire, strengthen, and support. As she approaches graduation, she considers life beyond the arch a lawless land that she is well-prepared to conquer with all of the hard-earned lessons and epiphanies that have been embedded within her while at Spelman. She is no longer just a student; she is an emerging leader, equipped with the wisdom and confidence to navigate the complexities of the world ahead.

It is clear that she will always be filled with an enduring sense of aspiration—it’s simply the Williams way. “The next thing that I want to tackle is building a village—I need a village of Spelman Aunties and Spelman sisters that I can call on, and with that comes becoming an even better villager,” Williams says. “I know that I’m dependable, but I want to become even more active and intentional with the ones I love.”