Balancing books and the beam: Maryland gymnast prioritizes by putting academics first - Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars 2002 - Carlla Johnson

Black Issues in Higher Education, April 11, 2002 by Eleanor Lee Yates

She credits her parents, Bradford Johnson, a lawyer, and Deborah Hunt, a real estate agent, with supporting and encouraging her. She says her teammates also have inspired her throughout her college years.

Johnson was a representative to the university's Student Government Association. She has performed public service work with the gymnastics team, giving gymnastics presentations to schools and churches and making appeals to children to stay away from drags. Johnson and her teammates also have participated in a number of community fundraisers. She recently was inducted into a national collegiate honorary society, Omicron Delta Kappa, for student-athletes who have a positive effect in their communities.

Johnson admits she has little spare time, but she does enjoy movies and has an interest in interior design.

And despite her busy schedule -- Johnson has had a meet every weekend since January -- she says she will look back on her college years as happy ones. "I didn't go out all the time, but I've definitely enjoyed college," she says.

Unlike some student-athletes, Johnson is winding down her competitive career. It's a sport for very young women, she says. The taller you are, the harder it is to get through the bars, she says. And by college, there's so much physical wear and tear. Though she was never seriously injured, she has aches and pains.

After graduating from college this spring, Johnson plans to take a break from books and perhaps work for a nonprofit company for a year. She plans on going to law school the following year.

Johnson's volunteer work in both the Maryland governor's office and in a state representative's office has her considering a career in politics or government. She'd also like to have a family one day.

But for now, Johnson has some no-nonsense advice to freshmen student-athletes: "Understand that your No. 1 job at college is to get an education," she says.

Previous Top Female Athletes

2001 Danielle Slaton Santa Clara University, Psychology, Soccer Update: Slaton was the overall No. 1 draft pick last year in the women's soccer league. She is now playing for the Carolina Courage but will return to Santa Clara this fall to complete her last semester.

2000 Christiana Nwofor Oberlin College, Biochemistry, Track & Field Update: Nwofor is finishing up her second year of medical school at Harvard University

1999 Shannon Brown University of Wisconsin, Spanish, Journalism, Soccer Update: After working for the New York Times in their marketing and promotion department, Brown moved to the Chicago area to work as a regional manager for an educational technology and media company.

1998 LeTisha Shaw Stevens Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Soccer, Track & field Update: After earning a master's degree from Stanford University, Shaw returned to the New Jersey area to work for a pharmaceutical company.

1997 Natasha Taylor West Texas A&M University, Basketball

1996 Christina Thomaskutty Tulane University Basketball

1995 Michaelene Tetteh Arizona State University Track and Field