BORN to an anaemic mother who was not able to secure much employment, Othniel Williams sold sweets in primary school to support his school-related expenses, which set a solid foundation for him to later become a first-generation university graduate within his family.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with first-class honours from The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, a Master of Arts in English, also from UWI, and a second master’s degree in teaching English as a second language (TESL) from St Cloud State University in Minnesota, United States. He graduated with a distinction from both programmes. He now heads to the University of Massachusetts in September, where he received fellowships to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in English.

“I applied to six universities that are at the forefront with research and innovation — these are called R1 (research intensive) universities — and I was accepted into three: University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of New Mexico, and Oklahoma State University. I was extremely elated! I remember grinning and clapping for several minutes after I got the first acceptance e-mail. I wanted to run but I was at work and I did not want any attention on me. UMass Amherst was the first school that replied with an offer; however, they were not my first choice. But through the communication with supportive faculty and students, the offers of two prestigious fellowships and a tangible sign from God, I accepted their offer,” he told Career & Education.

With a mounting career and a terminal degree in view, the 27-year-old now reflects on his earlier years growing up in Milk River, Clarendon.

“I grew up in an extended family that consisted of my grandparents, my mother, my aunts, and my cousins. I am from humble beginnings. My mother, who has a sickle cell condition, was not able to secure much employment outside of the home, so she raised chickens and sold phone cards to send me to school.

“Interestingly, I used to sell sweets for about three years at my primary school [Rest Primary School]. Thankfully, my classmates bought sweets and peanut treats from me. The profit helped with school-related expenses such as paying for GSAT [Grade Six Achievement Test] evening classes,” said then former pre-teen businessman.

After GSAT, Williams was placed at Denbigh High School, where he excelled not only academically but also socially and in leadership.

“I am eternally grateful that God sent me there. The experience was amazing. Denbigh High School offered me opportunities from as early as seventh grade to develop my skills in leadership, speech and drama. Throughout my tenure, I served in positions such as student council vice-president, debate team captain, honour society president, sixth form association president, and head boy.

“Although I was involved in so many co-curricular activities, my academics did not suffer. I managed to score the highest average in the school from seventh grade to eleventh grade. That also means I was always first in my class. I sat nine CSEC [Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate] subjects and got all grade ones. I left the two-year sixth form programme with four ones and four twos. It’s important to note that I was on the CXC [Caribbean Examinations Council] national merit list for CSEC food and nutrition and CAPE [Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination] literatures in English, unit 1. I also received a trophy and cash award from the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education [PATH] as a result of being named the national PATH male top achiever and medals from the US Embassy in Jamaica for outstanding performance in literature and information technology,” the high achiever detailed.

Williams also copped gold medals at the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s (JCDC) annual speech and drama festivals. He hails the work of his speech coach Avalyn Johnson who has played a crucial role in his oratory skills development.

Upon starting his undergraduate studies at UWI, Williams was unsure of how he would fund his studies, but thanks to scholarships and good Samaritans, he was supported.

“I started UWI without paying a dollar towards my tuition. I got some money from my uncle in New York, and I used it to pay the miscellaneous fees and the exact amount for hall fee that was required to collect a key for a room. I applied for several scholarships, but it was in the first week of classes that the Sagicor Foundation informed me that I was a recipient of its scholarship. Sagicor Foundation took care of my tuition, and a PATH grant took care of half of my hall fees. To pay the next half of the hall fees and to cover daily living expenses were not easy. However, my aunts helped a lot with that. I will never forget my aunts giving me their entire partner draw to cover university expenses. I also had incredible friends who would text me regularly to come for dinner without my asking if they had cooked,” he recalled.

The young educator, who has taught at Camperdown High and Manchester High School, said that his career plan is linked to his purpose of “educating, empowering, and celebrating people”.

“After I complete the PhD, I intend to develop and teach in composition and rhetoric programmes so that language teachers and writing instructors can be better equipped to create successful, confident writers in K-12 schools and colleges. I also plan to direct a writing programme that is distinguished by multi-modal, culturally responsive pedagogies and assessments. I am driven to find strategies that minimise students’ negative attitudes toward writing. I am confident my work will ensure that students — regardless of language background, literacy experiences, and dispositions towards writing — claim their identities as writers,” he explained.

Williams says he owes all gratitude to God and all his destiny helpers.