Featured Aspirnaut™: Mack Williams
Mack Williams is a four-time Aspirnaut™; three times at Vanderbilt Univesity Medical Center and one summer with Aspirnaut™ at the University of Michigan Life Science Center as a resident counselor.
1. Tell me a little about growing up and your background.
I grew up in the small town of West Helena in eastern Arkansas. There wasn't much to do besides attending school and going to church. These two places molded me into the community-driven person I am today. I was challenged at a young age by educational inequity, so my parents took matters into their own hands to ensure I attended the schools that gave me the best education in our area. There was not much access to opportunities before starting school at KIPP Delta Public Schools. My parents also spent time outside of school finding access to educational resources that were not provided by the school. I would not be where I am today without them.
2. What are the major influences in your educational and career path?
Great question! My parents and family are one of the biggest influences on my educational and career paths. I feel honored to represent the family and do things that my parents, grandparents, and ancestors did not have the opportunity to do. They are what motivate me to keep doing what I do. My mother was an educator later in life and inspired me to pursue education as a career path. I currently teach AP Calculus and Precalculus in Houston, Texas.
3. What has been your biggest challenge during your educational journey?
The hardest thing I have experienced along my educational journey was adapting to the world with my speech disability. Prior to Aspirnaut™, I had not been given proper resources, guidance, or knowledge about speech therapy. Communication is one of the most important facets of life, and I had to learn how to navigate with a speech disability on top of self-ridicule and ridicule from others.
4. What made you apply to Aspirnaut™?
I applied to Aspirnaut™ because I believed that I possessed the knowledge and skills to complete a biomedical research internship. My college counselor, Amy Charpentier, told me about the program, and I knew of a few other students who had participated. Outside of that, I didn't have any plans for the summer and wanted to utilize my time and this opportunity to the best of my ability.
I participated in the Aspirnaut™ program for a combined four summers with the program! I was selected to be one of the resident counselors to help launch the program at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute.
