Ouachita Stories

Previously published in the 2019 Ouachitonian yearbook

Most know the maxim, “You don’t get to choose your family.” But it is something special when your family chooses you. Sarah Williams, a freshman communications and media major from Tyler, Texas, could tell you that better than most.

Though Williams considers Tyler her hometown, she was born in Romania. Her parents adopted her when she was two years old, shortly before the country shut down all international adoptions.

“My mom was online for something for my cousin, who’s also a little person, and she found a link to my adoption website,” said Williams.

After some prayer and consideration, her parents decided she would be a great addition to their family. On September 11, 2001, Williams’ mother received the call that she was free to fly to Romania and pick up her new daughter. This came as a shock considering the somber events of that day.

Since her adoption, Williams has felt constant support from her family members.

“My family has always been very, very close,” said Williams. “I’ve always had the backing of my entire family in whatever it was that I did.”

While she did feel supported by everyone in her family, Williams especially named her mother, grandmother and aunt as the most influential people in her life. She cherishes the ways that these women have always been alongside her, rarely missing an event or performance.

Williams hopes to return to Romania one day to visit and learn about its culture and daily life. She would also like to go on a mission trip to the orphanages because of her faith and the time she spent in an orphanage.

“The Lord has obviously been working in my life from the age of two years old,” said Williams. “He’s just guided situations for me, and now I’m at a place that I call home, and I could not be more grateful for that.”

Williams has never met her biological family, yet she is not bothered by this absence. For her, her adopted family is her family; whether chosen or unchosen, family was family – no questions about it.

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