February 3 , 2009
 WHERE: Temple University Ambler, 580 Meetinghouse Road,
Learning Center Auditorium
WHEN: Wednesday. February 11, 7 p.m.
For Garrett Johnson, there are no insurmountable odds. He simply doesn’t believe in them.
A Rhodes Scholar — the first African-American and first student-athlete from Florida State University to be awarded such an honor — and an award-winning athlete many times over, Johnson has ably proven what dedication, perseverance, and drive can accomplish. Nothing is beyond your reach, according to Johnson, if you set your mind to it and work hard to achieve your dreams.
On Wednesday, February 11, Johnson, the keynote speaker for Temple University Ambler’s Black History Month celebration, will use his personal experiences — his “life narrative” — to explore “the efforts of the African-American community, and the larger American community as a whole, to strive for a better quality of life.” This program, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Ambler Campus Learning Center Auditorium, is free and open to the public.
“I’ll explore and celebrate the achievements we’ve made so far and also look forward at our continuing struggles,” he said. “I’ll be focusing on black history, but I’ll also be exploring how we all can move forward.”
With the support of his family, friends, community, teachers, and coaches, Johnson’s achievements have been more than exceptional.
Despite battling a life-threatening illness, he graduated magna cum laude with a double major in Political Science and English from Florida State University in just three years. He also distinguished himself by winning individual and team NCAA national championships — he won the 2006 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Shot Put Championship — in addition to achieving ESPN Academic All-American status in 2005 as a track and field athlete; he was only the second FSU track and field athlete to receive the honor. Johnson continues to hold the school record for indoor and outdoor shot put at FSU and was honored with the university’s “Golden Torch Award,” presented each year to the student-athlete with the highest grade point average. While at FSU, he also interned in the office of Florida Governor Jeb Bush.
“I had a very strong ‘supporting cast’ of family and friends who ensured that I was focused on school and sports very early on. I have a wonderful family, great coaches, and great teammates,” he said. “I was ambitious, I often took on more than I should have, but I had that strong support system to keep me focused on my goals. I’d be out of the house every morning by 7 a.m., change in the car, work at the governor’s office, practice, shower, head to class, head home at night, work on homework, and start all over the next day. It was a lot of work, it wasn’t easy, but it was doable when you put your mind to it.”
 Johnson did face some extreme struggles along the way. During his sophomore year, blood clots developed in his leg, moved into his lungs, and threatened to move toward his heart. In one month, he went from 275 pounds to just 235 pounds. Bedridden and depressed, Johnson was “content to lay there and just do nothing.”
“My Dad came home from work and forced me out of bed to toss a medicine ball around. He was determined that I would get back to school and back to athletics,” he said. “It took almost a year to return to competitive condition, but my family, friends, and coaches were there every step of the way — I owe them a huge debt of gratitude. I think what I have been able to achieve is a testament to how a strong support system and hard work can pay off.”
In 2006, Johnson’s continued dedication and hard work provided him the opportunity to engage in “a life defining experience” as he was named a Rhodes Scholar on behalf of the United States. The Rhodes Scholarships, established in 1902, are the oldest international study awards available to American students. The scholarships provide two to three years of study at Oxford University in Great Britain (www.rhodesscholar.org). Only 32 college students from throughout the United States are chosen for Rhodes Scholarships each year.
“Prior to my application, no one in my community or immediate family really knew what the Rhodes Scholarship was, but after I was awarded the scholarship, it became an experience for the community as a whole. In my first year, I wrote monthly articles on my experiences that were published in the local newspaper,” he said. “I also had friends and colleagues, other Rhodes scholars from Zambia, Kenya, South Africa, share their thoughts on achievement and the challenges that they faced.”
 While at Oxford, Johnson helped to establish the Black Association of Rhodes Scholars in an effort to increase applications from minorities. He also continued to train and compete while fully embracing the passionate sports culture prevalent throughout the United Kingdom. He graduated in June of 2008 with a Master’s degree in Migrations Studies — his Master’s thesis examined the use of sports as a tool to help refuge children better integrate into their new communities.
Johnson foresees a future in politics and government for himself, focusing on migration issues and foreign policy.
“We need to be more socially conscious as a whole; we need to be more socially responsible in our interactions with the rest of the world,” he said. “I’m heading to Germany and Sweden next to compete as a professional athlete. I’ll also be applying to law school and exploring job opportunities. I’m determining what the best next step is for me, there’s a lot to consider, but I’m enjoying doing what I’m doing now.”
Johnson said he’s never been any different from anyone else, with his fair share of “ups and downs and moments of doubt.”
“I think what I try to convey in any talk I give is that regardless of socioeconomic background, color, culture, or circumstance, if you create a vision for yourself, nothing is impossible,” he said. “That’s the story of not just African-American tradition, but off all society — ambitious people striving to achieve and accomplishing far more than anyone ever thought possible.”
The February 11 event is sponsored by the Office of Student Life. For more information on Black History Month at Temple University Ambler, call the Office of Student Life at 267-468-8425.
This program is also part of the Ambler Campus Cultural Affairs Series. For more information on the Cultural Affairs series, visit www.ambler.temple.edu/culturalseries.
CONTACT: James Duffy, 267-468-8108, duffyj@temple.edu, release available by e-mail
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