Brianna Williams on a mission to make a difference

Brianna Williams is refusing to give up on her dream of becoming the first person in her family to earn a university degree.

The St Catherine native is navigating financial struggles, self-doubt, and exhaustion with a resolve she admits she didn't always possess.

"It's important to me because I'm breaking a cycle and showing that it's possible to go further than what my family has experienced before," she said.

"I want to make my family proud and create better opportunities for myself and for them. It also sets an example for others in my family so they can believe they can do it too. Most of all, it means I'm building a better future and proving to myself that my hard work can pay off."

Williams, 20, an alumna of Eltham High School, describes her high school years as a turbulent period marked by emotional and financial hardship.

"I almost did not graduate high school because I was just lashing out and I wasn't getting the attention that I so craved," she told THE STAR.

"I was basically fighting and just getting in trouble. It was very bad until I got saved in Grade 10, when I had to repeat," she added.

The shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges.

"I didn't have any device to go on the online classes, I was mostly absent and didn't interact with the school work. The teachers didn't know me, so they did not send my name up to do any subjects," she said.

Encouraged by her mother to not leave school without qualifications, Williams renewed her focus and graduated in 2023 with five Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects.

But graduation didn't erase her uncertainties. She applied to The Mico University College in 2024 and was accepted, but deferred until 2025 because of financial reasons.

She applied for scholarship, but rejections compounded the stress.

Her breakthrough came unexpectedly after sharing her story on the popular social media platform, TikTok. A stranger stepped in to fund her first semester, allowing her to enrol in the Family and Consumer Science programme at the teacher-training institution.

"I felt like it something impossible to start, applying was the first step, but I didn't see my way through," she said. "I really thought that high school was the ending for me."

"Getting accepted showed me that there is more to life, there is more where education is concerned, and if I push through, I can achieve more."

Financial strain remains severe, with tuition costing roughly $400,000 per year. Williams made the difficult choice to leave her call centre job to focus on studies, after a near-collapse on campus underscored the toll of juggling work and school.

"A lot of persons say that I have to manage both school and work to succeed, but working at a call centre is not easy," she said.

"I decided that I had to leave that job if I want to effectively pursue my studies because there was a point where I fainted on campus. It was just so damaging to me because I was so exhausted," she said

Her support network and faith remain her anchor.

"My friends, they push me to the best, telling me, 'Brianna, you are already here and we are here for a reason and we need to get this degree'. Also, my mom, even though she is not in the position to help financially, she is right there behind me saying you can do it."

William also credited her involvement with the University and Colleges Apostolic Ministry for strengthening her resolve.

Williams aspires to be an educator who makes a lasting impact.

"I don't just want to be a teacher who goes into class, writes on the board and leaves. I want to be an educator who understands how each student learns, what helps them to learn, and what opens their mind," she said.

"I want to reach each individual student in my classroom and make sure they actually understand, because I know what it feels like to be in a system and feel invisible," she said.

Williams values the flexibility of her degree, which opens doors in nutrition, culinary arts, and beyond.

"In a couple of years, I expect to have my degree and be in my job, being a teacher, impacting lives, being that educator that I wanted when I was in high school. I want to be that teacher that makes a difference, that five years after they leave school they are still talking about me and what I brought to the space."

Those interested in supporting Brianna Williams' journey can contact her at 1 (876) 304-9796.