KHOU anchorwoman and Lamar HS graduate Sherry Williams advises HISD students to make the first move

In this week’s I am HISD, which features students, graduates, and employees, KHOU-11 news anchor and reporter Sherry Williams reflects on growing up in the Third Ward, trying out for cheerleading at Lamar High School, and running to deal with personal loss.  

You grew up in Houston’s Third Ward near Texas Southern University. What are some of your childhood memories growing up in this historic neighborhood?

I used TSU as my own private country club! My brothers and I would use the track, we’d use the tennis courts, and we’d ride our bikes all over campus. We walked from my house to Turner ES every single day for school.

As a student, you attended Turner Elementary School, Lanier Junior High, and Lamar High School – all HISD schools. What unique experiences did you have as a student that shaped who you are today?

When I got to Lamar, I tried out for cheerleader, even though in my mind, I didn’t fit the prototypical cheerleader type. I was not popular, I wasn’t really pretty, I had these little spindly toothpick legs – I kind of still do. I said, “I’m going to try out just to show that a normal girl can.” So I did and I made it! I really learned a lot about leadership and teamwork through that experience. And it also showed me that I’m not afraid to be on a stage performing in front of people.  I’m still doing that today.

At KHOU 11, you have a segment called “What’s Right” where you give reports on what’s going on in the community. What segment stands out in your mind?

One story that sticks out is about this young lady, Diane Tran, an honors student. Her parents divorced and she ended up living on her own. She got in trouble because she missed a lot of school, she worked two jobs, she was exhausted, and the judge threw her in jail for chronic truancy. I did her story, and it went viral. Some people started a fund, they raised $100,000 for her. Stanford University invited her to come up for the summer and take part in a leadership conference and offered her a scholarship. She’s 17, a senior this year, and she just can’t bear the thought of moving away and leaving her siblings. I’m very proud of that story.

In January 2011, you began running half-marathons. You also participate in the MS-150 bike ride from Houston to Austin every year.  What motivates you to stay so physically active?

The half-marathons I started doing out of sadness. My little brother got colon cancer and it claimed his life within just a few months, and it was such a shock. To cope, I just kept running. I would be running and crying; it would be quite a sight. So then I ran so far, kind of like Forrest Gump, and I thought, “Well, maybe I’ll do a half-marathon.” I run in honor of my brother. Then last summer, my dad died of prostate cancer, and so I ran my second half-marathon for both of them.

 What advice would you give HISD students hoping to break out in broadcast news?

If you think you want to be in broadcast news, work on the student paper, do the morning announcements, and see how you feel. It’s a career that, especially at the beginning, can be thankless – and the pay is horrible in the beginning. And sometimes, in the middle it’s horrible, and at the end it is still horrible! Call a station and say “This is something I would like to do, can I stop by one day? I won’t ask questions until everything is over.” They may be impressed you have the gull and gumption to ask.

If you know an HISD graduate or HISD employee who should be featured in I am HISD, please email us at info@houstonisd.org.