Student Spotlight
William Smith Jr.
Biology Major
2024 Kaplan Scholarship Semifinalist
Weeks after graduating from St. Edmund Preparatory High School in 2015, William Smith Jr. followed a family tradition, becoming a fourth-generation Local 40 ironworker. He spent the next seven years building New York City's skyscrapers.
"After dedicating many years to my career, I knew it was time for a change," recalled William . “I became an avid reader of philosophy during my time as an ironworker, which allowed me to reconnect with myself during the challenging parts of my job.”
Noting that the Greek translation of the word “philosophy” is “love of wisdom,” he said, “As I began reading psychological literature, my desire to explore my mind and stand on the shoulders of giants provided me with strong reasons to pursue academia. I knew the path I wanted was one of constant growth and learning.”
At the age of 26, he forged a new path. He enrolled at Kingsborough Community College, becoming the first in his family to attend college.
The transition from construction to college wasn't easy. With no family members who had attended university, he struggled to navigate the admission process. “I did not know how to navigate from grabbing iron to now paper. I was truly unaware of how to get my foot in the door,” he admitted. “For some reason, there was a fear of failure that made my soul concrete.”
A highly educated friend, with whom he had exchanged his philosophical knowledge and shared his fears, guided him through the application process. As he slowly made his way toward his goal, he began to understand what was expected of him and the opportunities open to him.
Since starting at Kingsborough, William has given it his all. He chose to major in philosophy at first, but he later switched to biology to challenge himself. He earned Dean's List honors every semester while completing his associate degree in biology and was one of only three KCC semifinalists for the prestigious 2024 Kaplan Leadership Scholarship.
William will transfer to SUNY Stony Brook in spring 2025 to study psychology, where he can explore his interest in neuroscience. His goal is to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and eventually open his own practice while teaching college. “I look forward to being an impactful professor one day.”
His most important takeaway as a student is, “You get what you give. Being a student is about learning, not just meeting deadlines and memorizing material for tests,” he explained. “If you don’t give 100% to your studies, you will never fully understand the topic or situation at hand.”
He urges students to work hard, explore their curiosity, and think for themselves. "Don't choose a career path because society or your parents deem it meaningful. Be vulnerable and cherish your time as a student. Enjoy the journey, because it won’t last forever!"