April Scholar Of the Month Vinson Oliver Williams Is Following his Dream to Become a Doctor

Vinson Oliver Williams is a senior at UNC Asheville and NC State University in a Joint Engineering Mechatronics Program. The Mechatronics program is a blend of mechanical and electrical engineering, controls, and design, so essentially everything you need to know to make a robot. Vinson found the program to be rigorous, but he found everything so fascinating that even the hardest classes were fun. Read on to learn more about his journey and the advice he has for current All Ways Up Scholars.

What kept you busy on campus when you weren't making robots?

Most of the activities I participated in during my time in the program really centered around helping others with their academic success. I worked for the UNCA Academic Accessibility center as a note-taker, the Physics Department as a Senior Peer Facilitator, and the Math Department as a tutor. I really found that I have a passion for helping others understand difficult topics. I enjoy the high of watching someone's face light up when they finally understand a concept, it's exhilarating for me! On a less academic note, I wouldn't say that I was the most involved student, but I did join a couple of clubs. Throughout my undergraduate years, I was a member of the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Clubs. I even took up rock climbing, camping, and hiking - the Appalachian mountains seemed like the perfect place to try it out!

How have you managed during the pandemic?

The pandemic wasn't necessarily hard to manage because it was not notably different for me. Since half of my classes are Distance Education through NC State, the academic transition to Zoom went smoothly. I used to have a philosophy of "homework first, friends later," which wasn't a healthy or good one. But the pandemic really made me realize how much I value my relationships and how helpful they are to my mental and emotional health. I've realized that they help keep me grounded, and with the added stress of the global pandemic, my relationships and interactions helped me curb some of my anxiety. Remember to keep your friends and family close, and learn to give your mind a break when it needs it. People are only a phone call away.

What's next for you?

I came into college knowing I wanted to be a doctor by the time I was 25, but the "of what part" and "how" part was the part I didn't know. I used to want to go into Nuclear Engineering to research nuclear energy. But with lots of self-reflection, I was able to identify that my true passion was in space propulsion systems. I think that space robots and powerful rockets are the coolest things on the planet! (pun intended) I have been accepted into a few graduate programs, but this fall I plan to attend the Direct-to-Ph.D. program in Aerospace Engineering at NC State University, in which I will receive both a Masters and Ph.D. After that, I have a vague sense that I want to go into teaching at a university or work as an engineering consultant. I am excited to be getting my Ph.D., but I feel more relieved and content that my hard work is finally paying off when not a lot of people can say that they know what they are doing in a few months because of the pandemic. I feel truly blessed and thankful that I'll get to put my mark on the world in this way.

What advice do you have for current All Ways Up Scholars?

My advice for All Ways Up Scholars is to learn to truly enjoy your college experience. We as AWU Scholars have had to single-mindedly work towards being successful, and have put expectations on ourselves to go above and beyond. You can do that, but don't forget to stop and smell the flowers, make new friends, try new things, and ask for help. I wish that I was sternly told to enjoy college and that my own personal worth didn't rely solely on my grades or the extremely high bars I set for myself. I want AWU scholars to know that you are amazing, can change the world, and enjoy it at the same time.