Alumni Spotlight

Joining TDS in fifth grade eight years ago, it didn’t take long for Rashyia Williams to find her voice. She excelled in the classroom and on the court, made friends easily, and lifted the spirits of those around her. In middle school, she won an award for excellence in social studies, was recognized for her consistent demonstration of our core values, and was a three-time MVP of the basketball team. Emily McAllister (MS Director) remembers, “Rashyia always stood out for incredible resilience and positive attitude. Her infectious laugh, quick sense of humor, and big smile always made the school day brighter and more fun. She grew in leaps and bounds during her time in middle school, and, whether on the court or in the classroom, she always sought feedback, pushed herself to do better, and showed incredible toughness in the face of any challenge.”

Rashyia carried her confidence, curiosity, courage and warmth to Durham Academy, and she had an immediate at DA. During her four years, she served as a peer educator, captained the basketball team, led the Black Affinity Group, and forged a partnership between DA and the Journey League (a basketball program for teens and adults with special needs). At Graduation, Rashyia received the Scott Jameson Filston Memorial Award for her “love of learning, joy of representing her school in athletics, perseverance and an unselfish commitment to the school and community.” Focusing on Rashyia’s gifts as a leader, Lanis Wilson (US Head) commented that “she brings an energy and a sense of joy that can immediately be felt.”

For these and many other reasons, Rashyia earned acceptance at several colleges and universities, including a full scholarship to UNC and admission to the honors college. We’re delighted that she chose to stay closer to home; Rashyia has served on TDS alumni panels for years, we look forward to her continued presence as part of our community.

Why did you decide to attend TDS?

I knew very little about private schools and how special the opportunity to attend one would be, so I based my decision solely on how I felt during my shadow day. TDS immediately felt like a place I could call mine for the next few years.

What are your fondest memories of TDS?

My first is going to Hershey, PA for our GFGA. This memory is full of jokes, laughter, and learned-knowledge that my classmates and I got to share. I remember making ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s along with dropping my phone behind a giant “ice cream carton” on the wall and needing the workers to unscrew it from said wall to retrieve my phone.

A second fond memory is playing basketball. TDS was a building block in my basketball career. It allowed me to establish myself and build confidence. During the Covid quarantine, I remember being outside and working on my craft non-stop so that I could help my team the following year.

What connections to your TDS classmates do you still have?

Ironically, I am currently in the Dominican Republic with Lane Maynard, who I met at TDS. Though we bickered during much of our first year together, Lane has become one of my best friends. I still interact with most of my classmates on social media. Also, I’ve found that, when we meet in person, our talks are always rooted in care and genuine interest about how our lives are going.

Is there a teacher who was particularly influential in your time at TDS?

Every teacher I encountered at TDS, whether or not I was taught by them, positively influenced my life in some way. Ms. McAllister helped me to forge a fondness for reading and to understand the proper way to craft sentences, while Ms. Carnes always supported my love for math. Teachers like Mrs. Khan, Mr. Spencer, and Señor Dowd all led me to enjoy subjects I once never thought I could truly like. In all, each of my TDS teachers helped shape me into a better student and person.