Aug 30, 2016 11:20 AM EDT By Jane Reed, UniversityHerald Reporter

The 34 year old model and actor is known as one of the hottest prime time actors on television. Known for his role as a doctor in Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Jackson Avery. However, there is one humble profession that not a lot of people know.

Aside from acting as a doctor, in real life, he taught in high school, cites Ranker. This Chicago, Illinois local was born in 1981. As a young child, he enrolled in Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island. After graduating in high school, he proceeded to Temple University.

From there he earned his degrees in African-American Studies and Film & Media Arts. Both his parents were public school teachers. When Jesse Williams graduated from Temple University, he decided to follow their footsteps. He taught high school in the Philadelphia public schools for six years. He used his American and African Studies and English degree to teach in high school.

When asked about his acting career, Williams explained that he never aspired to become an actor. His real goal in life was to become a football player or civil rights attorney. He never played professional football but he did have a short stint with a law firm. When it comes to civil rights, he is actively defending humanitarian causes especially when it comes to racial discrimination.

Before he became an actor, and aside from being a teacher, he also modeled for companies like Kenneth Cole. He also worked at a law firm and a bartender at the Soho Grand Hotel, New York. When asked to describe himself, he describes himself as "driven, funny, happy and appreciative."

It was his wife who introduced him to the show Grey's Anatomy. And the rest, as they say on the show, is medical history.

Recently, he won the BET humanitarian award. Because of his acknowledgment, he delivered a speech. His BET speech highlights the racial injustice, cultural appropriation and police brutality that is happening in the country.

Check out what he has to say during the BET Awards below:

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