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Biloxi Student Turns to South

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Posted on October 14, 2020

Thomas Becnel

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#FreshmanFocus is a series focused on incoming freshmen at the University of South Alabama. 

During their first week at South, Kaylee Williams and her roommate tried a playful way to introduce themselves to neighbors in their residence hall.

鈥淲e wrote notes and slipped them under people鈥檚 doors,鈥� she said, laughing. 鈥淲e wanted to reach out and make new friends. We saw it on TikTok.鈥�

Williams, 18, is an international studies student from Biloxi. She would like to learn to speak Spanish and Korean. She hoped to visit South Korea before starting college, but couldn鈥檛 because of the coronavirus pandemic. She also wants to become a physician or a dentist.

鈥淓ver since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a doctor,鈥� William said. 鈥淚 always admired my pediatrician, and she inspired me. I shadowed her when I was in high school. I shadowed my dentist, too.鈥�

Her roommate is her best friend from Biloxi High School. She also wants to become a doctor. They plan to study together in chemistry classes.

At South, Williams is interested in the Black Student Union. She would like to join a sorority. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping for clothes and listening to music.

鈥淚 like hip hop and R&B, and I like Spanish and Korean music, too,鈥� she said. 鈥淜orean hip-hop sounds very similar, just in Korean.鈥�

Eight questions for Kaylee Williams:

What advice did you get before leaving for college at South?

鈥淢y grandma told me not to worry about the little things, just make sure I do well in class. My mom said to make sure I鈥檓 safe and enjoy college life the best I can.鈥�

How are your classes?

鈥淚 have Freshman Year Experience, trigonometry, Spanish I and global issues, which is an international studies class. It鈥檚 about environmental and political things happening around the world. It reminded me of my conservation biology class in high school. I want to be more involved in environmental issues. If I had more time, I would be.鈥�

What鈥檚 your schedule like?

鈥淓verybody told me not to schedule classes really early in the morning, or late in the day, because then you might miss them, but I have global issues at 8 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That鈥檚 early. I鈥檓 not a morning person. I鈥檓 more of an afternoon person.鈥�

Do you have a favorite spot on campus?

鈥淚 do, actually. I like to go and sit on the first floor of the Student Center. It鈥檚 open and all, but it鈥檚 very quiet, and I can get my work done.鈥�

What else have you discovered at South?

鈥淥n Wednesday nights, we went to the dodgeball games at the Student Recreation Center. I can鈥檛 throw, so I just dodge. The first night it was glow-in-the-dark dodgeball. The second time it was 2000鈥檚 music with people like Rhianna, Katy Perry and Lil Wayne.鈥�

Do you work on campus?

鈥淚 have a job at Marx Library and take the walking trail to get there.  I thought I鈥檇 be on my feet the whole time, but it鈥檚 more like a desk job. I鈥檓 the one who makes sure students check in with their Jag numbers. They鈥檙e always asking me if they need their cards, and I say yes, and they should memorize their Jag number.鈥�

Have you been to Jaguar football game?

鈥淵es, I went to my first game. I missed the fireworks in the beginning, but I got to see them after they scored a touchdown. That was something 鈥� we didn鈥檛 have that in high school. I was in the student section, so it was very energetic and nice to be around people.鈥�

Have you gotten homesick? Do you go home to Biloxi on the weekends?

鈥淚 work most weekends, so I don't go home often. It鈥檚 good and bad. I get to see my family, but then I want to come back to campus.鈥�

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