John Williams ’25
Confidence Takes Flight
Even if they haven’t had a class with him, most PVI students and faculty recognize the face and voice of John Williams. As one of the anchors and founding members of PVI-TV, John has become a familiar presence throughout PVI.
His passions extend beyond the studio. From the time he first watched Apollo 13 in sixth grade, John has been hooked on all things space. As a junior, John founded the Aerospace & Aviation Club.
“It’s a great curiosity. There’s endless amounts of information. It’s become my life goal to figure out or collect and know all of it.”
After a visit to the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, John’s father was so impressed by his knowledge of space and aviation that he recorded John sharing facts and encouraged him to start a YouTube channel. Since then, John has uploaded over 60 videos. He sent his page to the Smithsonian and eventually got a job at Udvar-Hazy working as an explainer.
“Explainers are college and high school students working on carts around the museum that have different themes, such as planes, spacecraft, or the universe.” Each week, John shares his knowledge with visitors of all ages.
A chance encounter at Udvar-Hazy led to an unforgettable opportunity. While volunteering, John answered several questions for a visitor. Before parting ways, John handed the visitor his business card. The visitor turned out to be a producer, who followed up with John to invite him to the Living Legends of Aviation event in Beverly Hills. There, John was placed on the red carpet to interview celebrities. He spoke with two astronauts, the first female Blue Angel pilot, John Travolta, and several aviation legends—an extraordinary experience sparked by a simple conversation.
“On the red carpet, I had three questions prepared. But everyone’s different; you can come up with good questions in the moment. I’m good under pressure. I’ve learned that everyone’s human — just be nice to everyone, have confidence, and you can do anything.”
John describes the lasting impact PVI has had on him. “I have come to love God and be kind to everyone. PVI taught me how to plan ahead, study complicated subjects, and work hard. I have grown in confidence and wisdom.”
In addition to gaining confidence, John’s journey at PVI helped him grow spiritually. His favorite PVI memory was his Junior Retreat. “I made countless friends and learned how easy it is to love and follow God’s will.”
John will attend Catholic University and plans to study Media and Communications. He looks forward to working at the National Air and Space Museum in DC. His goal is to become the public relations manager of NASA or another space company, or to become a national news anchor.
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His passions extend beyond the studio. From the time he first watched Apollo 13 in sixth grade, John has been hooked on all things space. As a junior, John founded the Aerospace & Aviation Club.
“It’s a great curiosity. There’s endless amounts of information. It’s become my life goal to figure out or collect and know all of it.”
After a visit to the Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, John’s father was so impressed by his knowledge of space and aviation that he recorded John sharing facts and encouraged him to start a YouTube channel. Since then, John has uploaded over 60 videos. He sent his page to the Smithsonian and eventually got a job at Udvar-Hazy working as an explainer.
“Explainers are college and high school students working on carts around the museum that have different themes, such as planes, spacecraft, or the universe.” Each week, John shares his knowledge with visitors of all ages.
A chance encounter at Udvar-Hazy led to an unforgettable opportunity. While volunteering, John answered several questions for a visitor. Before parting ways, John handed the visitor his business card. The visitor turned out to be a producer, who followed up with John to invite him to the Living Legends of Aviation event in Beverly Hills. There, John was placed on the red carpet to interview celebrities. He spoke with two astronauts, the first female Blue Angel pilot, John Travolta, and several aviation legends—an extraordinary experience sparked by a simple conversation.
“On the red carpet, I had three questions prepared. But everyone’s different; you can come up with good questions in the moment. I’m good under pressure. I’ve learned that everyone’s human — just be nice to everyone, have confidence, and you can do anything.”
John describes the lasting impact PVI has had on him. “I have come to love God and be kind to everyone. PVI taught me how to plan ahead, study complicated subjects, and work hard. I have grown in confidence and wisdom.”
In addition to gaining confidence, John’s journey at PVI helped him grow spiritually. His favorite PVI memory was his Junior Retreat. “I made countless friends and learned how easy it is to love and follow God’s will.”
John will attend Catholic University and plans to study Media and Communications. He looks forward to working at the National Air and Space Museum in DC. His goal is to become the public relations manager of NASA or another space company, or to become a national news anchor.
St. Paul VI Catholic High School is a private Diocesan Catholic preparatory school for girls and boys in grades 9-12 in Chantilly, Virginia, seeking to help our students Grow in Grace and Wisdom. Our school is part of the Diocese of Arlington and offers rigorous academics, an inclusive community focused on spiritual and leadership formation, and a proud athletic tradition featuring nationally renowned programs competing in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association.
St. Paul VI Catholic High School is an accredited member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
St. Paul VI Catholic High School is an accredited member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
