Solomon Williams, one of the best classified students in organic chemistry in Rutgers, had a romantic relationship with science growing up.
It was his least favorite subject until he failed a biology exam. Instead of abandoning or being frustrated, he was inspired to do better.
“Once it happened, I remember that I could not believe that I failed it and I thought I really had to start trying,” said Williams, who is about to finish an average of 4.0, obtaining a diploma in organic sciences and a healthy and society minor.
“When I sat down and I really read science, I realized that it was fascinating and really interested myself as the superheroes did when I was a child,” said Williams.
HAS Rutgers University-New BrunswickWilliams has made the story – winning one of the highest of organic chemistry notes. He was appointed recipient of the Wright-Right Award in 2023 which recognizes the undergraduate students for excellence in the subject and obtains this year number one this year in 6,057 students in the School of Arts and Sciences. It is also classified as the number one student in systems physiology and general chemistry and has marked in the three percent of the country on the medical college admission test (MCAT). His extraordinary achievements place him among the most talented students on the school level at Specialization college.
Now, with acceptance of prestigious medical schools, notably Yale, Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, Williams, 21, Hacketstown, is about to become the first doctor in his family.
He is a dream he started to think of before coming to Rutgers when a teacher at Pope John High School of Sparta recommended to read The pactA book on three male black doctors who grew up in downtown Newark and who made a promise to help each other to cross the University and the Faculty of Medicine.
“This is when I could see that people who look like me can become doctors,” said Williams. “I realized that my fascination for science could be used to help people. Since then, I haven’t really looked back. ”
With the support of his mother, an immigration retirement lawyer and his father, a retired federal officer Williams was unstoppable. He finished several courses, notably at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Sidney Kimmel Medical College of the University Hospital of Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia and Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in the county of Bergen.
In Rutgers, Williams, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious honor company, also works as a research assistant at the Wise Young laboratory, the Richard H. Shindell Chair in neuroscience. There he studies hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathyA brain lesion that occurs due to a lack of oxygen and blood flow before, during or shortly after birth.
He also enrolled high school students in algebra and chemistry students, volunteered at the Hacketstown Medical Center and during his free time plays intramural basketball at Rutgers.
“Salomon is a very motivated and diligent student who demonstrates an exceptional character both in and outside the classrooms. He studies or does research, Solomon has a magical touch that transforms all around him,” said Kamal KhanDirector of Odasis, a program that strives to increase the recruitment and academic success of disadvantaged educational students and economically interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Williams does not know exactly what an area of medicine he will continue. But he knows that part of his goal will be to investigate health disparities in the African -American community – inspired by the challenges of health of his own family. His grandfather, the patriarch of his family, died recently, almost a decade after undergoing a stroke. Williams believes that the history of his grandfather and the cultural values that grew up in the deep south led him to eat more sweet and unhealthy food and not to think of regularly monitoring his health and his life.
“I want to provide health care adapted to specific needs to people in the black community,” said Williams. “I think I can make a difference.”