Category | Arts & Living

Joint enrollment student, Benjamin N. Johnson remains in running for 2007 National Merit Scholarship

Published on October 9, 2007 by The Sentinel

    Like any other college kid, Benjamin Johnson goes to class, studies, gets online and has fun. What sets him apart is the fact that he was homeschooled all 17 years of his life, is now enrolled at KSU as a senior joint enrollment honors program student, and is also announced as a 2007 National Merit Scholarship semifinalist.

    To qualify for this honor, you must have a high enough score from the PSAT and write a 500-word essay concerning your interests and personality. At the national level, this award is highly prestigious. With his 232/240 score on the PSAT, Johnson is in the running against 300 other kids around the U.S.

    Currently, Johnson takes 14 hours at KSU. As for future plans, he plans to attend Emory University as a business and management major. His second choice is Georgia Tech.

    Furthermore, he aspires to work for or open a non-profit organization. Even though he is undecided on his exact future plans, he would love to create or work in a non-profit organization to help underpriveledged kids.

    Enjoying the college atmosphere is one of the most pleasant things for him. When asked about the comparison between being homeschooled and joint enrollment with KSU, he felt that the pros of going to KSU have opened him up to many more social activities. However, the plus side of being homeschooled is having the freedom to do the work and wake up in the mornings whenever he feels. School is set at one’s own schedule.

    As for his work experience, Johnson is only 17 years old, yet he already has internship experience. Over the summer, he had a paid internship with law firm RBN on Cobb Parkway. As a law clerk, he said there were some fun parts to the job, but boring moments also existed. Running to the courthouse and editing lawyers’ briefs were a few of the best parts, according to Johnson. However, doing paperwork was a drag. Overall, this internship experience was immensely superior for the homeschooled senior.

    As for hobbies, like any other college kid, he loves being on the computer. From chatting and writing to web design, he loves it all. He is the webmaster for an organization called the Georgia Chapter for Life [which can be linked at http://www.grtl.org/chapters.asp?id=74].

    One thing that might be unexpected from a JEHP homeschooler is musical interest. However, this student is currently performing as the lead singer for his Christian alternative rock band, Guys in Gold. They’ve recorded one full song, and are working on others. He has been singing for his band, but Johnson also took piano lessons for about eight years as well.

    Needless to say, this kid has done a lot in his 17 years, and is not stopping anytime soon.

    Photo courtesy of Samantha Mach