Chris Williams Jones ’26
Name: Chris Williams Jones
Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: Bronx, New York
Major: History
Extracurricular Involvement: Temple of Hip Hop
Email: [email protected]
Why did you join the Diversity and Access Team?
Having attended predominantly white schools for the majority of my education and not feeling a total sense of belonging I would like to mitigate that experience for future minority students. Continually, joining DAT also serves as another community or place of belonging for myself.
What is the biggest lesson you learned from your first semester on campus?
Having gone to boarding school I believed the transition to college would be easy, but I faced more difficulties finding myself on this campus than expected. After going through most part of my first semester unhappy and unsure if Trinity was the right place, I began to ask for help. Learning how to seek help when need be and when pressure was building was the most important lesson from my first semester.
How has a liberal arts education fostered your thinking?
I believe attending a liberal arts school has offered me the opportunity to explore different lanes of critical thought while continually providing a more holistic and encompassing view of education. Also a liberal arts education has exposed me to a plethora of various cultures and lifestyles. In my mind the main tenets of liberal arts are creativity and diversity.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
When my name is brought up in conversation and I am not around to defend myself, I would hope that a legacy of authenticity follows me. For me the most important value and the one that is most possibly the hardest to live by is authenticity. I strive to be authentic throughout all aspects in my life regardless of who is around. I want to be known as someone who has remained true to self and what I believe in despite what others have to say. In all of the relationships that I have built, I believe that they have maintained because of authenticity from all parties. I always try to have my beliefs and actions be in line with each other, that is true authenticity and the legacy I hope to leave.
How has the city of Hartford impacted your college experience?
Going to school in the capital city of the state has provided a diverse and exciting college experience. With the campus located at the top of the hill we are literally in the middle of the mix. Taking a few steps off campus one is exposed to different types of cultures through languages and cuisines. On top of the robust cultural and ethnic scene right off campus, going downtown also is a nice experience. Hartford reminds me of a small New York with great hidden gems like the Wadsworth Museum and the Connecticut Historical Society.
What areas of campus make you feel at home?
Being that we spend most of our time throughout the school year on campus finding places of peace and solitude go into making this place feel like home. Recently I have found myself either always in the library or the fitness center, In both places I am able to regain focus while also decompressing and having time to myself. Continually home is about the people who are in it. Also the people who I have surrounded myself with contribute to a sense of hominess on campus.
