The freshman in his first year at Malvern Prep runs track, is in the Diversity club, and has earned the respect of his teachers.

It’s 3 p.m. on a Monday, and Julian Williams is where he normally is at this time: sitting in front of a computer in Duffy 118.

He puts the finishing touches on a cutout image of himself and senior Kaloso Tsoeali, completely removing any personal physical attributes.

Twenty minutes later, he gets up, walks to Carney Hall, and opens his locker, taking out a gym bag with his clothes for track that day. He heads to O’Neill to change and head out to track practice.

Later he’ll go home, do his homework and study, regardless of whether or not he has a test.

Williams leads a busy life, both in and out of school.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“He is consistently courteous, consistently polite, always asks great questions, and always says thank you. It’s remarkable and I hope he’s able to continue that through his time at Malvern.

-Ms. Kate Plows

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“I’m in the Diversity Club, track, Young Poets, and Catholic Athletes for Christ,” he said. “I love all my clubs, I can’t really pick a favorite.”

Last year Williams even wrote a play, and won an award for it. “It was a mystery,” he said. “It was called King’s Kid. I ended up winning. It made my passion for writing grow.”

Julian says that he doesn’t pick his clubs and hobbies randomly but instead picks each one for a purpose.

“I feel that I’m really athletic, so I chose Catholic Athletes for Christ to get myself more fit. I chose Diversity Club because there are only two black freshmen, so I thought… I could change that,” he said. “And I chose Young Poets because I like to write a lot.”

Despite the number of activities Williams participates in, he says he still is able to manage his time.

“I feel like I manage my time well,” he said. “My parents make me study every night, which helps, I see why they make me do it.”

Williams’ study habits pay off, and they make him into a better student too. “I feel I do very well,” he said.

Graphic Design teacher Ms. Kate Plows has been impressed by Julian’s work ethic this year.

“Julian is an outstanding, over-and-above student in graphic design,” she said. “He came in at the start of this year curious, and at some point along the line, he shifted from curious to committed.”

“He puts in considerable overtime on our projects,” she continued. “I think he would sleep in the lab if he was allowed.”

To Plows, Williams shows ethic outside of the classroom as well as inside it.

“He is consistently courteous, consistently polite, always asks great questions, and always says thank you,” she said. “It’s remarkable and I hope he’s able to continue that through his time at Malvern.”

Freshman Geometry teacher Mr. Mike Rawlings doesn’t teach Julian anymore, and that’s because he doesn’t need to.

“He just flew through the math on his own,” Rawlings said. “He finished his class in half a year.”

Rawlings also say Williams is a responsible student, even when he isn’t in class.

“He’s all business,” he said. “He comes in, he knows what his work is, he gets it done.”

However, Rawlings sees more in Julian than just his academic skills.

“[Julian is] polite, well-mannered, and he’s always smiling, he’s always upbeat,” Rawlings said. “I don’t know what’s going in his head, but I know what’s coming off of his face, a smile.”

“I don’t want to make him sound like he’s Superman,” Rawlings said. “But he’s a pretty nice guy.”