Johnson Enjoys CBA's 'Perfect Mix of Everything'

For senior James Johnson, the decision to attend Christian Brothers Academy wasn’t immediate, but it sure turned out to be the right one. 

“I actually didn’t make my decision to attend CBA until the very last day,” Johnson remembers. “It’s the greatest decision I’ve made. I really picked it because of the whole brotherhood aspect and it was a perfect mix of everything.”

Now in the second semester of his senior year, the Brielle native is confident in his next commitment: attending Vanderbilt University in the fall. 

“When I get to Vanderbilt, I am looking to study economics, but I am also looking forward to getting involved in service, much like [how] CBA is where you better the whole person,” he says. 

Johnson took CBA’s focus on the whole person in stride, excelling academically, getting involved in several extracurricular activities, and growing socially. 

Watch Johnson's Interview (story continues below)

Over the past year, he has been awarded for his hard work in the classroom. Johnson recently was named a National Merit Commended Scholar, while also earning a spot in both the National Honor Society and Spanish Language Honor Society. 

“The academic environment [at CBA] really helped me grow as a student, especially with discipline and time management,” Johnson says. “For example, Mr. Smith’s honors history class really taught me how to take notes and I carried that with me for the rest of my time at CBA.”

Johnson notes several other courses that have helped develop him into a strong student, including Mr. Reagan's Differential Equations & Linear Algebra and Mrs. Heidelberger's AP Physics 1. He is even considering double majoring in some business or economics discipline at Vanderbilt, where he believes his time in Mr. Richardson’s Bloomberg Certification course will come in handy. 

Of course, Johnson has become one of the most friendly faces during his time at the Academy. Never shy to volunteer for new initiatives, he has become a staple in the Ambassador Program, a leader of the newly-formed DECA organization, and the president of Life Beyond Lincroft.

He is perhaps most proud of his work to build the Life Beyond Lincroft club, which has developed into a student-alumni organization. 

“Interacting with all the alumni and getting to know their careers past CBA is something that I will carry with me to college,” he says. 

Athletically, Johnson is a member of the varsity volleyball team, while also serving as the manager for both the varsity soccer and varsity basketball programs. 

As the final chapter of his CBA story is written, Johnson can’t help but to reminisce about how far he has come during his time in Lincroft.

“I think I have greatly matured at [CBA]. The respect I have for people, the way I interact with everyone, being able to meet new kids, and having the connection with the faculty here, has really helped me mature and become an overall better person.”

Being the great ambassador of the Academy that he is, Johnson has delivered some wise words of advice to prospective members of the Class of 2030 as he has toured them through the halls.

“My biggest piece of advice would be to get involved in anything you can as soon as you can. One of my biggest regrets was joining that club too late or not trying out for that sport. There is no hurt in trying.”