Spotlight On: William Stathakis, CCES Class of 2023

When William Stathakis ’23 commits to something, he commits 110 percent. So it was completely on brand for him to decide on the best college for him and commit to an early decision process, in which his application would become legally binding upon acceptance.

 

When William started looking at schools, he knew he was interested in politics and wanted to live in a city. He visited American University in Washington, D.C. and immediately knew that the school had everything he was looking for. William plans to major in International Studies with a focus in North African and Middle Eastern countries.

 

William has been at CCES for eight years, having started in 5^th grade at the Middle School. When he looks back at his CCES experience, he describes it as overwhelmingly positive due to two constants – his teachers and the CCES Boys Lacrosse program.

 

William says, “The teachers at Christ Church have always been there for me, both in and outside of the classroom.” He speaks highly of all he has learned from over the years, but specifically mentions Ms. Weldie, current Director of Auxiliary Programs and former US Learning Specialist, as “one of the main reasons” he was able to succeed academically at CCES and get into his top school.

 

While his teachers gave him the support he needed in the classroom, he found his community of friends on the lacrosse field. When he reached 7^th grade, he considered a number of sports, but decided to try lacrosse because he wasn’t the only person who hadn’t played before. He volunteered to try goalie, saying jokingly, “The team needed a goalie, and I really hate running.” But as soon as he had that first save, he was hooked. William is currently the starting goalie for the Varsity Boys Lacrosse team that has started the season 7-1.

 

One of his favorite high school memories is going to the State Championship last year, even though the team finished as the runner-up. William calls the guys on the team “his closest friends” and describes the season as special, despite how it ended. The lacrosse field is where he finds peace amidst the stress of school and life, and how he seeks to honor the origins of the sport, rooted in the Native American “medicine game.”

 

Lacrosse is not the only thing William has tried on a whim that ended up sticking with him. He is always open to new experiences, finding enjoyment in different types of work. As soon as he was old enough, he started working at a small coffee shop. And since then, he has become increasingly involved in local politics, adding multiple campaign roles to his resume, as his interest in political affairs started to grow. William says, “I did everything, from phone calls to writing speeches, filming ads to handing out flyers, and even going door to door.” These experiences combined with an internship last summer, working with a city council member, solidified his desire to pursue politics in college.

 

Associate Director of College Counseling, Lindsey Waters, describes William as mature, intelligent, reflective, and brave. She says, “William is secure in who he is and assured in his values. He is not afraid to ask questions and asks them because he truly wants to listen.”

 

These qualities have shone, especially within his rigorous English-heavy curriculum. William doubled up in English courses last year, taking AP English Language and English III Honors, a decision that was considered unheard of prior. William said the classes were so different in terms of content and focus, but he enjoyed both equally. Fittingly, William wrote his college essay on a quote from The Prophet, a book of poetry written by Kahlil Gibran.

 

Ms. Waters calls William “an active participant in class discussions” which demonstrates his “desire to establish meaningful connections” between what he is learning in the classroom and the world at-large. As William prepares to graduate and move on to a new chapter, it will be exciting to see what experiences come his way. Wherever he ends up, William will continue to ask questions, learn from those around him, and commit 110 percent to it all.

 

Favorite memory with your family? Spending Thanksgivings in Georgetown together, there is no cell service so we spend all our time together, talking and hanging out.

Top 3 bucket list destinations? Morocco, Alaska, and Denmark

Who would you want to play you in a movie? Zachary Gordon (Greg Heffley in Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Who is someone who had greatly influenced your life? My dad

What three adjectives would you use to describe yourself? Funny, laid-back, and friendly