An intimate group of 16 students from the Enoch Davis Youth Farm met with St. Petersburg College President Tonjua Williams virtually on Monday, May 4, to discuss how to overcome challenges and pursue their career goals. President Williams shared her personal journey, including growing up in South St. Petersburg, her college experience and her subsequent career at SPC.
“I wasn’t always the President of SPC – I’ve been through a lot in my life,” Williams said. “It’s not where you start but how you finish.”
As the first in her family to go to college, Williams recounted how lonely she felt at times, navigating this new experience and spending a considerable amount of time on the phone with her mom for emotional support. Williams candidly shared that earning her undergraduate degree was challenging, but some people stood in the gap and motivated her to push forward. She encouraged students to choose their circle of influence wisely.
“Be careful who you choose as your friends. Everyone isn’t rowing the boat in the same direction as you,” she said.
After graduating from college, Williams was unsure about what she wanted to do, so her first job was working at a local pool company. After a short time, she started her career at SPC as an accounting clerk. She quickly moved up and worked more than 15 positions in her 31-year career at SPC.
“Understand the difference between a job and a career,” Williams advised. “A job is task-focused, and a career is an extension of your life. You can decide who you want to become.”
She continued her education, though she was rejected four times before she was accepted into her Master of Counseling program at USF. That fueled her to earn a doctorate from Barry University. She also talked about facing hurdles while interviewing to become president at SPC and how others questioned if she was the right fit as an internal candidate.
One student was curious to know what motivated President Williams to keep striving and how to overcome challenges.
“I didn’t want to be poor!” Williams said. “I wanted more for my life, and I knew I would have a guaranteed no if I didn’t try.”
After sharing her story, Williams encouraged the students to discuss what obstacles they face that hinder them from achieving their goals. As each one shared, she gave them advice and motivation, encouraging them to defy the odds.
“All of you are more than enough,” she told them. “Go bold in everything you do. Don’t let anything keep you from moving forward. You will succeed!”