Holder of a lengthy list of accolades, awards, and achievements, senior Abigail Williams has dove into a variety of programs and extracurriculars at PRHS, showing success and leadership titles in each and every one of them. Her involvement has been dedicated to working with others on a team or in programs that work to serve others. 

  Known by her peers as a spunky, no-nonsense go-getter, Williams has established a comfort in complex projects, publications, programs, and classes. 

Taking on leadership roles began in middle school when she joined AVID. Being part of AVID in middle school gave her a sense of understanding of her school and a feeling that she was helping others, both of which she knew she wanted to continue.

“I got a sense of ‘I can do something’, I can go to college, I can be something,” Williams said. “I always knew I wanted to work with kids someday. At the time, I was interested in being a social worker.”

At the time, Flamson Middle School hadn’t had an AVID student run for class officer, which motivated Williams to run for class Secretary. 

“Being in that position and being able to make choices and control what I did in the school year was something that I really liked being part of. I knew that I could be a voice for others who wanted to have a say too.” 

In high school, Williams continued her streak as a class officer and began her journey as a waterpolo player. Girls waterpolo did not have a JV team at the time, and Williams was a varsity athlete as a freshman. When swim season came around, she was JV captain and Lion’s Club award recipient. 

“I kind of just did everything to do everything. I didn’t want to walk away from my school and say ‘I just sat by the planters every year and didn’t do anything,’” Williams said.

Williams truly did do everything. On top of waterpolo, swim, yearbook editor-in-chief, bearkittens, and ASB, Williams spent her summers volunteering at the Paso Robles Library, won several medals at SkillsUSA competitions, went to Girl’s State, and balanced a workload of classes beyond a typical six course high school schedule. 

When it came time to write college application essays, the subject of many of Williams’ essays revolved around the impact her teachers throughout the years have had on her.

Her childhood dreams of being a social worker have since changed into aspirations of becoming a teacher – specifically to younger aged students. 

“I wrote my college essays on the impact teachers have made on me and how I needed support throughout my childhood – that’s where I got the inspiration from. I want to teach little kids,” Williams said. “The biggest thing for me is that I want to be for them what my teachers were for me.” 

The mentor relationship Williams plans on studying further in her future is already being seen by her peers. Jade Wagner, sophomore and current El Roble Yearbook Editor in Chief, describes Williams as a role model and one of Wagner’s biggest supporters.

“My favorite thing about Abi is the way she’s always there for others. In academics, in sports, in extracurriculars, to her friends–she’s always dedicated and hardworking in whatever she’s a part of. She has been a role model for me these past two years, especially after my succession of her role the following year in yearbook,” Wagner said. 

Williams stepped away from the Editor in Chief role, sticking close with Wagner as she made the transition into the position.

“As an editor-in-chief, she held my hand through the learning process and saw my potential which she helped me recognize and develop. As a friend, she continued to support me in my own venture as an editor, in my photography as an ambassador of sorts, and through my personal life and struggles and was always there for me, even through her own difficulties.”

In the `fall, Williams will be attending Fresno State to major in Child and Family Sciences with a focus on child development. She is a completer of the PRHS Early Childhood Education Pathway, already having earned a Child Development Associate Teacher Certificate from Cuesta. Williams also plans to pursue her masters degree in Early Childhood Education.