“I love the professors. They take their jobs seriously, and they want their students to grow to be more analytical and apply critical thinking to acknowledge and be aware of the social issues happening in our society. It really is a liberal arts college.”
For LJ Williams ’23, the journey to Mount Holyoke College may have been indirect, but the conviction and resolution with which Williams speaks today is clear.
“As a transgender student, this was the school that would accept, nurture and welcome me in every possible way. And it never failed me — I’ve felt welcome and supported in my two years here.”
As a student in the Frances Perkins program, LJ joins other nontraditional students whose life paths have taken many turns. The program has supported more than 1,000 students since its inception. Williams, along with her “FP” peers, brings rich life experiences to bear on her Mount Holyoke experience.
Like Frances Perkins before her, Williams came to Mount Holyoke to study economics. She aims to use her degree in the nonprofit sector, working within marginalized communities or serving for an NGO like the United Nations.
And like the more than 1,000 Frances Perkins scholars before her, Williams brought rich life experiences to bear on her Mount Holyoke experience.
Born and raised on a rural island in the Philippines, Williams earned a spot at an undergraduate institution in Manila by virtue of her chess credentials, having won the 2015 Manhattan Open in the under 1700 category. But she left school to become a cabaret performer in Japan to support her family back home.
Six years ago, Williams moved to New York City and enrolled at LaGuardia Community College. She began working for Queens Neighborhoods United, a nonprofit collective that supports families displaced by gentrification in city neighborhoods.
Williams is no stranger to financial hardship herself.
“This scholarship has paved the way for someone like me, a transgender student who is also a person of color and who grew up in a very poor family. Instead of working a part-time job, this scholarship really alleviated that situation. I was able to afford my basic necessities without having to work long hours and compromise my studies."
Coming to Mount Holyoke two years ago was a game-changer, says Williams.
“I love the professors. They take their jobs seriously, and they want their students to grow to be more analytical and apply critical thinking to acknowledge and be aware of the social issues happening in our society. It really is a liberal arts college.”
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