Tajanique Williams

10800 Highway 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
843-650-5600
TajaniqueWilliams@g.horrycountyschools.net

5 May 2016

Senior Digital Exploration Judges

10800 Highway 707
Murrells Inlet SC, 29576

Dear Judges:
My name is Tajanique Williams. I was born in New York City and lived there for 16 years. My
mother and father were separated even before I was born. Since I have been around to different
states because of my living conditions, I understand the world more. I would describe myself as a
compassionate, funny and thoughtful young woman. I attended a gifted and talented middle
school in Brooklyn. Then, I went to a college preparatory high school for my freshman and
sophomore year in Manhattan. That was a very strict-uniform school. Next, I left that school and
moved to Georgia in the middle of May 2014 with my mother and siblings. That was a huge
change - from attending a high school in the North to one in the South. I got on the girls
basketball team and I acquired a plethora of academic as well as athletic awards - 10 in total
during my junior year. This was also the year where I had my first serious relationship. Lastly, I
moved to South Carolina to live with my dad and had to attend St. James. Also, I got my first job
at Moes and I love working there. The change was not that much of a deal since I am still in the
South. I am both excited and apprehensive about graduating in less than a month because I have
to transition into a responsible adult and attend a college.
What motivated me to pick autism as my topic is because my youngest sister actually has this
neural disorder. She was diagnosed when she was about 2 years old. Having a sister with autism
and helping raise and teach her has been eye-opening in many ways. I learned to accept people
with disabilities, to have patience, to be responsible and to treat all people the same. I knew a
little about autism before I started this exploration, but now I feel like an expert because I know
even more about autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). For example, 1 in 68 children are born with
autism and there is no known cure for it. I accomplished working with autistic children and
completing all of my research and assignments. This may help me in the future to help take more

care of my sister in the future and I can tell my mother things she could do to help her out as
well.
This Senior Exploration process has put a bit of a toll on me. On the other hand, I am glad I had
to conduct this research. I would not have known the reasons why my sister and all of the other
individuals diagnosed with autism do certain things that may not seem usual to people without
autism. I first found out about this senior project from a friend in the first semester and I started
to already think of my topic. I definitely wanted to do a topic I was already familiar with. The
annotated bibliographies and service assignments were quite easy to me. Although, I had trouble
completing the research papers. Fitting in these assignments into my busy school and work
schedule was difficult also. I turned in all but one of my assignments on time. Then I realized I
could divide the assignment in certain days to get them turned in on time. I am so glad I
volunteered to work with autistic children because I met others besides my little sister that has
the same diagnosis. I feel like this assignment helps me with my future because college will
certainly assign similar research papers and I learned how to write papers with specific and
correct criteria.
All in all, I want to thank you judges for taking time out of your (possibly) busy schedules to
view my portfolio and to listen to this exploration research that is very dear to me.

Sincerely,

Tajanique Williams
Tajanique Williams