How It Began
Johnson began her collegiate profession at Traditionally Black School and College (HBCU) Talladega School, the second-ever HBCU to have a gymnastics program. Nonetheless, after just one season, this system was shut down as a result of lack of sources in response to Interim president Dr. Walter M. Kimbrough in July 2024.
“It was exhausting. I didn’t actually understand how a lot was being thrown at me without delay. Even my very own coaches had to assist me understand that,” Johnson stated, “I used to be excited for the brand new chapter, however I needed to discover a college in a matter of weeks due to the Talladega scenario. I needed to get used to new coaches, courses, teammates, and it didn’t actually hit me till I used to be at Temple.“
Johnson had no selection however to pivot. She knew she wasn’t able to cease gymnastics, so she discovered a brand new house.
With the transfer, she misplaced her full journey scholarship to Talladega, so together with a brand new college, state, coach, and life, she additionally needed to discover a option to pay for it.
“It’s put a little bit little bit of a toll on me, I simply take into consideration my dad and mom. We had been doing one factor and now we’re doing one thing else,” stated Johnson, who stays hopeful {that a} scholarship may nonetheless be doable. “It has not been simple, however so long as I do my job, we will get that fastened.”
With many new beginnings on the horizon, Johnson wished to have enjoyable and specific herself by way of performing. It was clear to her that meant it was time to create an unforgettable flooring routine.
“I routinely wished that track in my routine as soon as I heard it on the radio,” Johnson stated, “I knew I wished my routine to be hyped, one thing that not solely I might transfer to, but additionally the gang–undoubtedly my era.”
She discovered two of three songs she wanted for this routine, however discovering the final one got here with a little bit assist from mother.
“I used to be sitting within the truck with my dad and mom and the track got here on the radio and my mother was similar to ‘KJ, this must be the third track,’” Johnson stated, “I heard it and I used to be like, ‘You’re proper, that is it.’”
After combining “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, “Soak Metropolis” by 310babii and “TGIF” by GloRilla, she met with Cristina Elliot (a dancer at Temple) and choreographed the routine in solely about half-hour.
Johnson stated, “I’m completely happy that individuals are having fun with it as a lot as I’m, I feel it’s nice as a result of I’m having a whole lot of enjoyable on the market performing it.”
Though the transfer was powerful and introduced many challenges, it additionally bought Johnson to the place she is at this time.
“I feel it helped me provide you with my flooring routine as a result of I used to be ready to usher in my tradition, have enjoyable and usher in HBCU.”
