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Q & A with SGA and Campus Activities Board President Asia Johnson

By Chris Caldwell 

Southwest Student Government Association and Campus Activities Board President Asia Johnson
Southwest Student Government Association and
Campus Activities Board President Asia Johnson

Asia Johnson is a second-year student at Southwest and the 2022-2023 Student Government Association and Campus Activities Board president. We sat down with Johnson for a Q&A on her college experience and plans for the future.  

Why did you choose Southwest over all the other institutions in the Memphis area?

Choosing Southwest was an easy choice for me. I felt it was the best choice where I needed to start my college career. My sister, Destiny Johnson, is an alumna of Southwest, so I had someone I could rely on to tell me how college really is. The smaller class sizes and the professional relationships I saw that I could create with my professors really impressed upon me that Southwest was the place I needed to be.

Did affordability play into your decision to attend Southwest and if so, are you receiving any kind of financial aid such as Tennessee Promise, Tennessee Reconnect or other scholarships? 

Receiving the Tennessee Promise tuition-free scholarship provided me with the financial freedom I was looking for in a college. Coming to Southwest and knowing that my financial burdens and that of my family’s would be lessened, really helped me focus on other expenses like my parking decal, books, and the fees for classes that come outside of tuition. It was a blessing for me to receive that aid. 

What drives you to get up each day to go to school to earn your degree?

The fact that I can make a better life for myself is the motivation that I have every day. I enjoy being able to share my story with my family and others, that you don’t have to attend a four-year university to start your college career. I always say that starting off small can help you gradually live up to those big dreams and aspirations we all have.

Tell me more about your major. What are you most passionate about? 

My major is criminal justice. What I find the most interesting within that field is that I get to do what I love and that is helping others. I’ve always had a passion to help people who need the guidance and assistance to walk down the correct path in life especially when they don’t know the proper directions to take. Everyone in the prison or jail system is not a bad person. People make mistakes and I want to help those people correct their mistakes and learn from them. 

What do you like most about Southwest? How has Southwest helped you achieve success in the classroom or on the job?

I love the family atmosphere that Southwest provides. From our President Dr. Tracy D. Hall to the maintenance crew, everyone here is like family. Southwest is helping me create and foster so many relationships inside and outside the classroom. They all see leadership qualities in me  - as the Student Government Association and Campus Activity Board president and as a Southwest student. That is both humbling and encouraging. I want to leave a lasting impact on Southwest through my work and leadership because I know I have people looking up to me – not just here at the college but at home and in my community. 

What do you plan to do after you graduate?

Once I graduate from Southwest, I plan to transfer to LeMoyne-Owen College to complete a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Southwest’s has given me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and to network with others. When I get to LeMoyne-Owen, I plan to join a few organizations to further strengthen my leadership skills. 

For information about Southwest’s SGA and Campus Activities Board, contact Director of Student Development, Phoenix Worthy.