In the busy, filled hallways where hundreds of students pass one another daily without realizing it, one senior made it his task to build bridges on his campus instead of walls. William Osby was honored with the ICSEEU Unity Award for upholding his community through support across his campus.
“Unity means a lot,” Osby said. “It means you bring people together, that you’re a person that they can go to, and they can trust. It really means overall a great person, great student, and it really means a lot that I was selected for the award.”
William Osby has characteristics and actions that make Rock Hill a better place for everyone to enjoy. Whether it’s stepping in to help classmates, starting conversations that matter, or simply showing up with kindness.
“I like Puka Nacua,” Osby said.“He’s a great teammate, he’s always smiling, he always brings people together, and I feel like he really helps the team grow, and I can really use that in my life too, when helping my teammates grow.”
His determination despite any challenges he may face has helped him stay rooted in unity.
“I think it’s always just thinking about how it affects people around you. If you have a good day maybe that can make the person next to you have an even better day. If you have a bad day just try to remember there’s a person next to you.” Osby said.
Although Osby was selected as the winner for unity, it all comes down to core values he lives by.
“I believe that unity is one core value,” Osby said. “It’s better to work with people on most things, and if you have really good teamwork skills you’ll be very productive, not only in your life but in their life too.”
Attending Rock Hill for four years in a row has played a role in shaping some of Osby’s values overtime. Being a part of the school community day after day allowed him to see firsthand the impact of kindness, and meaningful connection.
“I’ve been here for four years, so I’ve had a lot of great experiences, and met a lot of people,” Osby said. “I think I’ve grown a lot here. I’d say through experiences like through track and through school in general, have helped me grow my personality and I find what’s better for me, where I want to go to school next year, what I want to do in my life.”
