The student body at Bridgewater resonates with me so much in terms of my own experience鈥rom first generation students to adult learners, to students who are navigating higher education at the undergraduate and graduate level, we have a diverse student body. Their lives are not one dimensional. Many don鈥檛 have the benefit of thinking only about school, they have families, are caregivers. I respect and admire them.
Dr. Wendy Champagnie Williams knows it鈥檚 possible to reach your goals, even if society claims the odds are stacked against you.
The 福利天堂专注精品福利 social work professor dropped out of high school at 16, after giving birth to her daughter. As a teen parent, she admittedly struggled.
鈥淚 felt like I didn鈥檛 fit in and wanted to find a place to fit,鈥 Williams said.
She found her footing through Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a Boston-based agency that provides services to homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth.
鈥淏ridge changed what could have been my trajectory,鈥 Williams said. 鈥淚 found someone who was willing to listen and help me to see it鈥檚 not over, that while being a young parent isn鈥檛 ideal, I still had potential.鈥
With this support, Williams was able to balance motherhood, work and school, eventually earning her GED, something she never thought possible.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 see myself as someone who was smart,鈥 Williams said.
So, when a social worker suggested she consider college, Williams was surprised.
鈥淗e saw potential and possibility in me,鈥 she said.
The conversation gave her the confidence she needed and eventually Williams went on to earn not only a bachelor鈥檚 degree, but a master鈥檚 followed by a PhD.
鈥淚 was a high school dropout, 16-year-old parent鈥 wasn鈥檛 supposed to get my PhD. Teen parents, particularly as a woman of color, that鈥檚 not often the narrative that鈥檚 told,鈥 Williams said.
Today, when she isn鈥檛 teaching at Bridgewater, Williams works as a clinical practitioner. In both roles she helps others see their potential, just as she was shown.
The journey from GED to PhD is one she often shares with her BSU students. Having someone students can relate to can make a big difference, Williams said.
鈥淲hen you feel like you don鈥檛 belong, you look for people you can connect with. Whether it be a peer, adviser, staff or faculty鈥ust to see someone or people who look like you, that you can connect to鈥ou then realize you aren鈥檛 alone and can be part of this community.鈥
Williams said her journey parallels that of many BSU students.
鈥淭he student body at Bridgewater resonates with me so much in terms of my own experience鈥rom first generation students to adult learners, to students who are navigating higher education at the undergraduate and graduate level, we have a diverse student body,鈥 Williams said. 鈥淭heir lives are not one dimensional. Many don鈥檛 have the benefit of thinking only about school, they have families, are caregivers. I respect and admire them.鈥
It鈥檚 also important, she said, for students to recognize that each person鈥檚 journey to success is different.
For students looking to find their way, Williams says she is always available to share advice.
鈥淭here are multiple routes to the same outcome. You can accomplish your goals and your road to getting there doesn鈥檛鈥 have to look like mine. It can look like what you want it to in order for it to work for you,鈥 Williams said. 鈥淵ou know yourself best, no one can tell you this is how you have to do it. I鈥檓 happy to help, to be part of the journey.鈥
Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu