Scholar Athlete of the Week: Ladner thanks benefactor
Published 1:05 am Thursday, November 29, 2012
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LAUREN WOOD | THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — ACCS’ William Ladner defends against Oak Forest Academy’s Brady Joiner during Wednesday’s game.
NATCHEZ — William Ladner still does not know who it was, but someone at Cathedral School made his summer one to remember this year.
Ladner attended the National Youth Leadership Forum in Boston this summer, an honor that requires a nomination.
The Adams County Christian School senior formerly attended Cathedral, and he said he knows it was someone from that school but is unsure who. But he does know he is greatly honored, he said.
“I still don’t know, but I’d like to find out so I can say, ‘thank you so much,’” Ladner said. “It was an excellent experience, and I am very appreciative.”
Ladner chose Boston out of a variety of different destinations, because he wanted to experience the culture in that city and have the opportunity to visit Harvard University — which he did.
“I had never been to the north, and I wanted that experience,” he said. “It was really cool to see the diversity of culture up there.”
The highlight of his trip came when the group made a trip to Brown University in Providence, R.I., he said.
“We got to see a cadaver, and that was really cool,” he said.
The experience was a glimpse into the life that Ladner ultimately wants to live.
“I really want to do something in the medical field,” he said. “I like to help people, and I’m thrilled by the human body and anatomy. I’m really interested in it.”
Ladner said a lot of that interest comes from his mother, Pamela Williams, who is a nurse.
Since childhood, Ladner has always been fascinated with the human body and medicine, but it wasn’t until high school that he found another one of his passions.
Ladner plays for the ACCS soccer team, and once again, it was a family member that inspired his passion.
“My sister (Emily Williams) joined the soccer team before I did,” he said. “But I went and saw her and saw how much fun it was and helped. Now I love it. I really enjoy it now.”
Ladner is still unsure of where he will attend college next fall, but thanks to his unknown benefactor and the experiences he had this summer on his or her behalf, his career choice of medicine is rock solid.