Jeff's Open Road

JEFF JOHNSON

Social & Political Activist/TV Personality
BET

LEADER INFO:

INTERESTS:

Politics Television

THEMES DISCUSSED:

Individualism Success Pressure Family Choices Acceptance Education Transitions Fulfillment Self-Reflection Risk Values Experience

FOUNDATION:

Upholding a Cause and Belief

BIOGRAPHY:

• Says the people who become successful are the ones who "throw the manual away" rather than following it.
• For most of his life, all he wanted to do was run; was an All-American track star, got a full scholarship to run in college.
• While in college, the president of the Black Student Union (BSU) saw something in Jeff, invited him to join.
• His track coach discouraged him from spending so much time with the BSU, so Jeff quit the team.
• His father told him he was a "quitter," told him that he wouldn't be financially supporting him anymore.
• A year later, after Jeff became president of the BSU, he invited his father to see his work; his dad apologized for not supporting his decision.
• Says his father's apology was "validation" because he wasn't living his dad's life, he was living his own life.
• Thinks too many young people give up their calling to satisfy the obligations they feel they owe their parents or their peers.