As the summer comes to an end, the series of lifeguard profiles ends with that of Maya Williams. Williams finished up her summer with a quick vacation and, in fact, just moved into her dorm at The College of New Jersey on Thursday.
"It feels okay," said Williams after just a few hours in the dorms. "I had a good summer but it had to come to an end. It's a good feeling to be back at home and moving into the dorm."
Williams has worked at the Summit Family Aquatic Center for three summers now, where she works with her brother Issa Williams.
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"My brother worked there before me," she said. "I started my sophomore year, which was three summers ago."
Williams has only had to make one save during her three summers, though she went into action so quickly that she didn't even have time to blow her whistle.
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"I saved a baby once in the baby pool," said Williams. "It was just a quick pick up because he fell in. I grabbed him right after he fell."
Williams has big plans for her future, and right now saving people is something she'd like to continue doing. She will be majoring in biology at TCNJ, with hopes of possibly becoming a doctor.
"Right now I want to be a doctor, but that might change based on what my favorite biology classes are," said Williams. "I'd like to do some research in the next four years. After the four years go to graduate school, possibly in a foreign country."
Though she says the only other language she speaks is Spanish, the 2010 Summit High School graduate is no stranger to international activism. During her time at Summit High School she was in the Save Darfur Club. She was also an athlete.
"I was on the volleyball team," Williams said, "I played three years of lacrosse, and I was on the step team, too."
Though she was extremely active in sports in high school, Williams says she now has some new priorities.
"I might do volleyball intramurals but nothing serious," said Williams. "I'm going to focus on my academics."
When Williams gets back into town you might catch her at Summit Bagel for breakfast, or grabbing some loaded waffle fries with her friends at the Broadway Diner.
As the school year approaches, be sure to say good-bye to any of the senior guards Patch has profiled before they leave for college and stay tuned for in depth high school coverage.
