Richard Johnson Guides Students Both Entering and Exiting College:
TYRA LEESMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
Professor Richard Johnson, an adjunct instructor at Meramec, gets to see students at both ends of the spectrum of graduation. From the green-horned, intimidated students of his Smart Start classes to the seasoned, professional students of Capstone, Johnson traces the trajectory of the average student from admission to graduation. ”I see freshmen coming in and they have absolutely no idea what they’re going to do or whether they’ll do well. Then I also see people years later and further into their education and it’s amazing, the difference. How mature they are, the way they learn to think critically, knowing how to navigate. The responsibility and maturity shows. I’m pleased to have the opportunity to be at both ends of that,” said Johnson. Johnson received his bachelor’s from the University of Arkansas before going on to earn a master’s from the University of Texas at Dallas. He has taught junior high school in New Orleans, Louisiana, and moved with his wife to St. Louis to be near their grandchildren after retiring. He is in his sixth year at Saint Louis Community College and most of those years have been at Meramec. He has been teaching for approximately 30 years, according to the professor. “You can tell he has been doing this a long time. He knows his stuff. He knows what students will need to be successful, and the things he teaches in Capstone are as important for your life as the things he teaches in Smart Start are for your college,” said Brandon Camp, a former Meramec student who attended one of Johnson’s classes. Johnson’s best memories at Meramec include attending Honors Awards Banquets, where he says he is always amazed by students who graduate with honors and high GPAs and are also involved in multiple activities. “I love when students have a diverse range of activities and lots of ability and opportunities, and have also succeeded in multiple areas. Not just accounting, but maybe also writing for The Montage or volunteering,” said Johnson. On his final exam, Johnson likes to ask his students what they liked best and least about the course. He says it has helped him to know what is working or if he should occasionally change the way he approaches subjects. “Every semester, I learn something new from my students. That’s the whole point of Capstone: to see what you got out of college classes. A lot of students seem to go into the class thinking it’s worthless, and that they won’t get anything out of it, and they always tell me that they leave having gotten something out of it,” said Johnson. Johnson is most passionate about learning, he says. “I always used to say, I’m a teacher by vocation and a student by avocation,” said Johnson. “The end of your academic time shouldn’t be the end of your learning. There are all kinds of opportunities to get involved in. People should consider being lifelong learners.”
