Many college students graduate when they are 21 or 22, but Solomon Williams, a N.C. Central University graduate student, was an exception.

Williams, 55, a May 2001 graduate of NCCU, has had his share of turbulent times. However, he is now committed to completing his master’s degree in library science.

Williams was born May 19, 1946 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to a family of five boys and three girls.

After high school, he decided to attend college. When he was 19, after only a semester at Bethune Cookman College, he dropped out to marry his pregnant girlfriend.

After their daughter was born, the couple separated and Williams moved to New York City.

This was when his life took a turn for the worst because it was the first time he was away from home and he rebelled.

While in New York City, he began drinking heavily, smoking marijuana and eventually, crack cocaine. According to Williams, he considered himself a “poly-addict.”

It was 1997 when Williams moved to Greensboro, and decided to give up drugs and dedicate his life to Christ. He became a member of the Evangel Fellowship Church, where he received spiritual direction.

With a clear mind and spirit, Williams was looking for a new direction in his life.

In 1997, his church took a tour of NCCU, and Williams was impressed with the university. He began taking classes in the summer of 1999.

While at NCCU, he majored in English Literature and received a 3.7 GPA.

During his first semester, Williams was 53 years old and often the oldest student in his literature courses. Many times, he was the first to enter the class and the last to leave.

English professors could see his determination and willingness, as he would add insightful commentary to the class discussions.

“He’s definitely hard-working,” said NCCU English professor Eleanor Harrington-Austin. “He was a great pleasure to teach and he [taught] me as well.”

Williams is now a graduate student at NCCU, majoring in his passion, library science.

“It was because of that ministry that made me connect with my life long dream of becoming a librarian,” said Williams.

In the next five years, Williams plans to earn a doctorate in library science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later becoming a librarian at Evangel Fellowship Church School for K-12 students.