AT only 13, Justin-Paul Williams is more than just the average TEEN. Young and confident Williams, who has been actively involved in many clubs and societies in preparatory school has already received four awards for excellence from Wonderland Productions in acting and found an interest in charity work at the tender age of eight.

Growing up, his mother, Michelle, would donate various items to children’s homes, and occasionally carry him along to play and have dinner with the children.

“This caused me to understand that you can’t live in a world that revolves around you. You have to understand that there are less fortunate people out there struggling” he explained. This eye-opening experience helped to influence his desire to be philanthropic.

In 2010, he volunteered at the ODPEM/Haiti Earthquake Victims Collection Drive. He received a Heart Foundation of Jamaica Award for Fundraising in 2008 and 2010 and having continued to work with the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, in 2011 he was the recipient of the award for the ‘Individual participant who collected the most sponsorship.’

He shared with TEENage that one of his most memorable experiences was in 2009 when he was a special guest of intern to the first lady of the USA, Michelle Obama at the White House in Washington DC.

Currently attending the Wolmer’s Boys School Williams has the task of balancing school, family time and extra-curricular activities such as football, tennis, and photography.

In 2009 he was the triple bronze medallist in the JCDC photo competition and he more recently took pictures for the teen magazine: Teen Spirit Ezine. He also enjoys cooking vegetarian dishes in his spare time and not only was he a featured chef in — Jamaica Eats Magazine; but he was also featured as a guest chef on Smile Jamaica, Television Jamaica.

With his busy schedule for his tender age, he explained that he creates time for all activities because he knows that it has to work: “You have to make it work, you have to learn time organisation because no one is going to wait on you.”

As a result of his listed achievements thus far, he was recently specially invited to attend ‘An Evening with President Bill Clinton’ in Grand Cayman where he was mentioned in Mr Clinton’s speech as a fine future politician and businessman.

Adding to it all, Williams recently forming a group entitled ‘SwagMaster Kiddz’ with two of his friends, Gabriella Black and Mellissa Martin.

They hosted a ‘tween’ party during the summer entitled ‘Summertime: The Final Frontier’ and they are planning to host another during the Christmas holiday — ‘Club Luau’, where part proceeds will be in aid of a charity. In the future, they also intend to sell various items including snap backs, shirts and custom-made phone cases.

Following a motto told to him by his father, Chris Williams, CEO of Proven Investments, ‘You don’t always have to be the best but better than average’ he is inspired by the achievements of his father and Barack Obama.

He further explained that he knows that it may take some time to collect the funds however it can happen. In closing, he said “Go out there and strive for what you want, don’t let anything stop you, because people will always tell you that you can’t but you really can.”

— Talia Soares