What’s in a name? For some cultures, names mean everything. But for America, names don’t carry the same weight.

I remember something my dad told me as a kid, though. One day when I was in elementary school or middle school, I remember him telling me “Us Williams, we hustle. Your grandpa hustled, I hustled. It’s something we do.”

He taught me in sports to be the first one back from water breaks, and he taught me to be the leader at the front of the sprints. I also know my mom used to hustle like crazy. She worked full days running daycare, and then spent several nights staying up making custom purses, or custom dolls to bring in extra income.

I was never the fastest, and never the smartest, but I’m grateful for my family who taught me the value of hard work. It’s in the name.