STORY BY will bjarnar
ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY YEN
Eric Johnson wrote on the student government association’s candidate page for the last time this past fall.
It was his fourth run at a presidential campaign—which he went on to win—so it was no longer new nor frightening. His address wasn’t reserved or resigned; it was a matter of fact. “I wish to serve you all one last time,” he wrote, finally adding that he hopes he’s proved himself capable of that service.
That’s two “serves” by my count, though his entire spiel sings the same tune. He perpetually looks like he had just come from the gym, a routine he’s made a mission for his own mental state. Fitting, as he’s a member of ROTC on top of everything else he manages (class president, a former member of the rugby club and a future Field Artillery Officer in the US Army).
His ROTC scholarship and a contract with the army came late in the spring of his Sophomore year, a rare feat: most ROTC scholarships come in the first year, and Eric didn’t join until his second. This came after rigorous testing: the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) and the Combat Water Survival Test (CWST), and reaching the Army standard for BMI. Early-morning runs in frigid conditions were par for the course in joining Charlie Company, an extension of Fordham’s ROTC program.
Conversations with his grandfather, a combat veteran, have inspired Eric to prioritize control and service in life. At the core of those discussions – about the difficulties that come with entering the Army, possible uprooting, the dangers within – a principal influence shone through. “I thought to myself,” he said, pausing in the middle to perfectly frame the ensuing thought, “What is the most important thing for myself? - civil service.
“The idea of doing something for the betterment of more people than yourself,” he said, defining the term, reading it off like he had the dictionary entry cued up from memory. In reality, it’s just what he’s been doing for… well, forever. At least as long as he can remember. Which sounds like a cliché, but it’s his truth. He wants everyone to find their own mode of service, “something that fulfills them,” at least.
He consistently works for what’s best for those around him. “All I’ve wanted to do was lookout for the little guy[s out there],” he said. At a young age, he was bullied, and since then, he has “always desired to assist those that feel left behind.” With that in mind, Eric and his board brought Alison Malmon, the director of Active Minds, a college organization focused around mental health, to speak at Marist and encourage students to be more open with discussions surrounding mental health.
This led to a Marist chapter – helmed by senior Ashley Wohlrab, whom Eric says does “fantastic work” – though that didn’t come easy. “For him, mental health and Active Minds… that’s a definite big area for him,” Michele Williams, Marist’s Associate Director of Student Activities said of Eric and his fight for representation. She’s worked closely with Eric on his initiatives and his presidency since he was first elected. When a later speaker event related to mental health received a low turnout, Eric was disappointed, but never acquiesced to “failure.” Williams said he took the turnout in stride as a learning experience. “No one’s angry… we move forward from these moments.”
Eric is always moving forward, and always looking out for the little guy.
As if the gods of all things kismet required it, Eric sprinted past me as I was walking toward my chat with Ms. Williams about perhaps her most passionate student. Naturally, I assumed he was running into a meeting, maybe to save the little guy. Williams texted him mid-interview to check. No; he was training for the “‘Celebrate Life Half Marathon’ on March 8,” he typed in response.
It’s an annual race that raises funds to assist cancer patients in their financial needs. Even when he takes a minute for himself, to breathe, to throw on some headphones, he’s serving someone else. So yes, on this midday run, something plenty of students do just to get in shape, Eric was doing what fulfills him. This was indeed service; it just benefitted him for a change, too.
The morning of May 15 marked the last day of finals for the Class of 2020. Eric served out his four-year tenure as the President of the Class of 2020 and has been officially commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army, specializing in Field Artillery. Earlier in the month, he was awarded the Brother Paul Ambrose Lifetime Achievement award for his time in SGA. His exciting military career begins in September 2020. To view the virtual commissioning ceremony, click here.
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