Akira Williams

Me being me growing up, I never really wanted a career or anything like that, I wanted to be a mother, that was always my dream. To me it was always like, one, I want to love someone, like that loving aspect, I love the thought of being a mother, I love being nurturing, I love just taking care of my own. And then with that, it’s more so, I want to do it the right way, but you know growing up and realizing, you know, the world around me, I really had to grasp the fact that as a woman and as a female, we have to have education and a career as a safety net no matter what. But it is also so I can give my children the life I never had and those opportunities. I want financial freedom regardless if kids or not, it’s a relief, it’s like I can breathe and like I can take care of those around me, meaning my mother and family, so regardless is just like almost peace of mind.

Akira is a junior at William Penn Senior High School, where she has been an active participant in the Penn State Talent Search program for five years. Through this program, she has had the opportunity to engage in numerous workshops, activities, and college visits that have broadened her horizons. In addition to her involvement in the Talent Search program, Akira is a member of the Steam Academy at her high school, a scholar in the York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program, and a participant in DECA. She also serves as the proud president of her class. As Akira looks ahead to her senior year, she is eager to delve deeper into the world of finance and explore its impact on everyday life. While she has not yet declared a major, her passions lie in accounting and business administration. She is excited about the prospect of attending York College in the fall of 2026.