By Sonia Robinson, Westside Gazette
wearing her white coat — a symbol of professionalism, knowledge, and a steadfast commitment to health care.
When Leja Williams slipped into her crisp white coat for the first time, she felt the weight of more than just fabric on her shoulders. A proud member of the Class of 2029, Williams described the moment as “exciting, happy, and more determined than ever.” For her, the white coat wasn’t just a symbol of medical training—it was a promise.
“The white coat represents professionalism, knowledge, and a commitment to health care,” she said. “Wearing it motivates me to dedicate myself to helping people and advancing health care around the world.”
Early Inspiration
Williams, the daughter of Carolyn and David Williams, always knew she wanted to pursue a career in health care. Originally drawn to nursing, she soon realized her real fascination lay in the world of medications.
“What initially sparked my interest in pharmacy was how ‘behind the scenes’ pharmacists are,” she explained. “I was most interested in the prescribing part of nursing, and I eventually became fascinated with drugs and how they affect our bodies.”
That curiosity became personal as she watched her parents take multiple prescriptions each day. “Seeing them sparked so many questions—how, what, and why,” she said. Those questions fueled a passion that continues to guide her journey.
Life on Campus
At Florida A&M University (FAMU), Williams has become an active presence in several student organizations. She is a member of Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society, and Kappa Psi Psi Healthcare Sorority Incorporated. Each group, she says, helps her stay grounded while connecting her to peers who share her drive for excellence.
Her path has not been without challenges. During her studies, she faced uncertainty when accreditation concerns surfaced at FAMU’s pharmacy program. “I considered transferring to another school,” she recalled. “But after doing my research, I decided to stay—and I was able to pick up right where I left off.” The experience, she says, taught her resilience and trust in her own judgment.
A Vision for the Future
Williams’ goals stretch far beyond the classroom. In five years, she sees herself celebrating her first year as a pharmacist and beginning a two-year residency to become a Hospital Neonatal Pharmacist. Alongside her medical career, she is also pursuing another dream: real estate.
“I want to be a realtor and eventually a broker with my own real estate firm,” she said. “In ten years, I see myself thriving in both pharmacy and real estate, living in Texas, and hopefully close to retiring.”
The Moment That Sealed Her Path
For Williams, the decision to pursue pharmacy wasn’t made in a single moment but rather shaped by a lifetime of witnessing how medication could restore health and dignity. “Growing up, I saw how much medication helped my close family members manage illnesses and diseases,” she said. “It gave them their lives back. Sometimes medications get a bad rap, but the truth is they save lives every day.”
That belief, combined with her determination, has carried Williams through late nights of study and tough decisions. Now, as she steps closer to her dream, her vision is clear: she will use her knowledge to heal, her ambition to build, and her example to inspire.
Class of 2029
Student Inspired by White Coat Ceremony
As a proud member of the Class of 2029, she described feeling “excited, happy, and more determined than ever” to complete her studies. Reflecting on the milestone, she said, “The white coat represents professionalism, knowledge, and a commitment to health care. Wearing it motivates me to dedicate myself to helping people and advancing health care around the world.”
Questions
Answer Parents Carolyn Williams and David Williams
She has been actively involved in several student organizations, including Phi Sigma Theta, National Honor Society, Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society Kappa Psi Psi Healthcare Sorority Incorporated
Question
What initially sparked your interest in pharmacy, and how has that motivation evolved since you started the program?
Answer
What initially sparked my interest in Pharmacy was how ‘behind the scenes’ pharmacists are. I initially wanted to be a nurse practitioner but I found that I was most interested in the prescribing part of nursing and I eventually was really interested in medication, drugs, and how they affect our bodies. Seeing my parents take multiple medications a day really sparked my interest and had me asking myself how, what, and why questions pertaining to medications.
Question
Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years, and how will your pharmacy education help you achieve those goals?
Answer
I see myself in 5 years celebrating a year of being a pharmacist and getting ready to start a residency for 2 years to become a Hospital Neonatal Pharmacist while being a realtor, soon becoming a broker to own my own real estate firm. In 10 years I see myself being a thriving Hospital Neonatal Pharmacist and having a thriving real estate firm, living in Texas and hopefully having made enough money to soon retire.
Question
Can you describe a challenging situation you have overcome? How did you handle it?
Answer
A challenging situation I had to overcome was making the decision to potentially enroll at another pharmacy school due to some accreditation talks at FAMU however, I did my research and decided to stay at FAMU and had the opportunity to pick up right where I left off at.
Question
Can you share a story or experience that solidified your decision to become a pharmacist?
Answer
An experience that solidified my decision to become a pharmacist was growing up seeing how much medication has helped my close family members be able to manage the illnesses or diseases they may have and how much it helped them get their life back and to be able to live longer. Sometimes drugs or medications get a bad wrap for their side effects or addictiveness but, that is a small percentage of encounters with medications.