A Purpose Rooted in Legacy: Andrew Williams’ Journey Toward Psychiatry
For Andrew Williams, the power of education is more than a personal value—it’s a legacy. The child of Jamaican immigrants, he grew up hearing stories of his mother’s determination, walking to school through rural sugarcane fields in a country where access to education was not guaranteed. “She walked because education wasn’t an option,” he says. “It was her defiance against circumstance.” That defiance eventually led her across the ocean, to a classroom in New York City, where she has taught for over 25 years—instilling in her students, and in her son, a belief in resilience and the irreplaceable power of knowledge.
That belief continues to guide Andrew through his academic journey at the City College of New York, where he’s pursuing a dual focus in psychology and the physical sciences. His goal: to become a psychiatrist. “I see psychiatry as the interwoven product of these two fields,” he explains. “Both perspectives are essential, and I felt it was important to ground myself in both as I prepare for medical school and beyond.”
Though early in his professional path, Andrew has already begun to see how his experiences at the Colin Powell School are shaping his future as a physician. The school’s strong commitment to diversity and inclusion has given him opportunities to learn from peers of all backgrounds. “Being able to build these cross-cultural connections will help me connect with future patients in meaningful ways,” he says. “That ability to understand and respect different perspectives is critical to providing equitable care.”
After graduation, Andrew plans to apply to medical schools in the Northeast and on the West Coast, while continuing to work as a medical assistant in an urgent care clinic and tutoring biological sciences through CCAPP. Each step he takes brings him closer to a career defined by compassion, cultural competence, and science.
For current students, Andrew offers a bit of advice borrowed from actor Henry Cavill: “If it’s not life or death, nothing is truly as important as it first seems.” That reminder helped him stay grounded through the pressures of student life. “At first, I worried about doing it all—clubs, research, everything,” he says. “But keeping perspective helped me focus on what truly interested me and kept my anxiety in check.”
When asked to describe the Colin Powell School in three words, Andrew doesn’t hesitate: Challenging, transformative, eclectic. Much like his journey—one rooted in heritage, guided by purpose, and headed toward a future in healing.
