Anita Williams

COL ’17
Age: 19
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Major: Government

Compare and contrast Dallas to Georgetown. Where are you more comfortable?
The people are nicer … when you cross the street [laughter]. I’m split now, I really am. I was more comfortable in Dallas when I first came just because it was all I ever knew, but also the kindness of people in their interactions makes it a warming place. But here, I’ve really grown into myself because of the climate, because of the high stakes and high motivation. So, I’m split.

What do you hope Georgetown will help you accomplish?
I hope that it’ll help me accomplish my personal goals while also leaving a mark here of some sort because of my goals. Georgetown offers a lot of chances to meet really important people but also really dynamic perspectives, job opportunities, goings on in the world, that are really important to open your eyes to. So I hope that can help me mold my ideas. 

What’s your favorite class you’ve taken at Georgetown?
Probably Black Power and Theology. A lot of people didn’t have too much high regard for the class but I actually really enjoyed it because it covered theology and religion in a way that I’d never seen legitimized before. But as well it tied in the social context of black culture and reality into the theological sphere. I really liked that.

What do you do for “me time”?
Watch Netflix. Japanese horrors or Korean dramas.

If you could lead a protest on one thing, what would it be?
This might take a minute to formulate. Profiling groups of black people and thinking a) they’re on a field trip, b) go to Howard [University] or c) not from here, just checking out the school because apparently more than three black people can’t exist in the same place at the same time [laughter].

What’s your greatest fear?
Having not fully gotten the experience Georgetown offers. It’s a big name, there’s a lot going on, and sometimes my own academic or social anxiety prevents me from really filling in the gloves.

What’s the best thing about Georgetown?
The ambition is everywhere. It’s really motivating. I’ve been able to compare it to other schools and the ambition is just not there. So I actually really appreciate that here.

What could Georgetown do better?
They could build a stronger sense of community. A lot of that sense of community is very separated, be it in The Corp, or toward the basketball team, very specific places, but not an overreaching sense of community.

Do you think it’s an artificial sense of community that we have right now?
It is. We have a community because of the name, not because of what we are.

Interview by Daniel Smith