Posted on May 9, 2016 by Joanna Carver
Destinee Williams
Overcoming a variety of hardships the summer before she entered UTSA, Destinee Williams will graduate this week from UTSA with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and will enter law school in the fall.
As a first-generation student from a rough neighborhood in Dallas, Williams reluctantly left her family at her mother’s urging to make a better life for herself at UTSA.
While she struggled her first semester, she quickly found solace in the college’s Business Scholars Program (BSP), a mentoring program designed for first-generation college students.
“One of the best decisions that I made at UTSA was to join BSP,” said Williams, who completed her degree in four years. “I found students like myself, and the staff were always there for me.”
And, once she gained her footing, she blossomed at UTSA as a member of the Honors College, a vice president for three years of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, a UTSA Ambassador and the recognition chair for Honors Alliance.
“I gained something from everything that I experienced here,” said Williams, who also participated in the Civil Rights and Social Justice trip, the LeaderShape Institute and the Summer Law School Preparation Academy. “I was inspired to be a better leader on campus.”
Williams’ career goals include owning her own law firm and giving back to the community by operating a domestic violence center. She credits her mom with being a “super woman” who was invaluable to her success.
“I never gave up on my dreams,” she said. “I never forgot where I came from, but I wouldn’t let that define me as a person.
“I love UTSA,” said Williams. “I am so happy to be graduating from this prestigious university. I’ll miss my time here. But you can’t stay somewhere because you are comfortable. This won’t be my final graduation.”
Wendy Frost—
Please send your comments to: wendy.frost@utsa.edu
— Joanna Carver
