Hard work pays off for Tim Johnson

By: 
Katrina Marsh - Custer High School senior

How we see high school students is different from the reality of what we should see. As much as you know, high school seems like all fun and games. Though the teaching curriculum is much different from before, students struggle more than many see. Those students have accomplished their goals and come out with successes.
Tim Johnson shows the struggle of being a high school student, yet still staying on top of all of his goals. Johnson came into high school with the thought of being a star student and was excited to be a part of the drama club.
With that being said, he also had his fears of high school. He feared being bullied,  especially when he first walked through the doors his freshman year. He suddenly found out that that’s not how people saw him. He became a well-known student for his academic achievements and his extraordinary talent and love for theater. Though he struggled with constant homework and doing extracurricular activities, he wanted to do something he loved as well as doing something he needed to.
Johnson maximized his time by setting aside the fun nights at football games and night with his friends and putting together a schedule. He organized with a planner when everything was due.
Later on in his high school career, he discovered a life lesson.
“If you work hard, you have better results; if you work smarter, you’ll get the best results.”
He used this even though he struggled. He wishes he could have tested out of English considering it was a lot of work. His senior year, he found his biggest struggle was yet still to overcome. The Senior Project was a huge step into his future,  though he walked in not knowing what his plan was.
This class became hard for him, from living almost an hour out of town and juggling theater after school. He was busy doing homework as well as holding a job outside of school. He somehow balanced all of these out on a planner. He worked all day at school. Students would say he always had his laptop out working on something. This allowed him to go home to peace and not worry about school and work or worrying about having to stay up.
He set goals for himself achieved these goals, becoming valedictorian for the class of 2021. Then he created a video for anti-racism that went statewide.
Johnson carries the thought that his senior project opened doors to finding jobs in a career he will enjoy. I asked Johnson how these obstacles would impact his future? Keeping a positive mindset, he replied “It’s made me more prepared.”
Johnson has achieved his goals so that after he graduates, he can become a successful anesthesiologist, studying medicine and becoming a doctor, though it still comes with more fear of obstacles that will fall in his way such as student debt. He shows he has overcome everything in his way, even if it gets stressful or difficult.
Students who have graduated still struggle in school. High school has been known as the biggest part of our lives. Students struggle today more than ever. With technology, a major pandemic, and also juggling jobs and dreams. Things may seem easy, but behind the scenes, every student struggles with something, leading to disbelief in themselves or others.
Johnson proves that even with all the tough times and lots of work, it can be accomplished.

 

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