Skegee Spotlight: Asia Johnson
June 03, 2019
Asia Johnson, a native of Detroit, Michigan, says despite being 842 miles away from home, she wasn鈥檛 going to let distance stop her from attending 扣扣传媒University. The third-year architecture major says she fell in love with 扣扣传媒as a senior in high school.
Choosing Tuskegee
When entering through the university鈥檚 鈥淟incoln Gates,鈥� Asia recalled being overwhelmed with joy and excitement.
鈥淭he campus had more than just a beautiful landscape 鈥� you could tell it was rich in culture, history and love,鈥� she explains.
Asia says that very moment solidified 扣扣传媒as her university home-away-from-home for the next five years.
Discovering hidden talents
When selecting a major, Asia says it was her passion for art and her love for math that guided her toward studying architecture.
鈥淚 chose architecture because I thought it would be a good combination of math and art 鈥� I鈥檝e been into art for as long as I can remember,鈥� Asia recalls. 鈥淔or me, art is more than just drawing on a piece of paper. Art is my savior 鈥� when I don鈥檛 know how to express myself with my words, I am able to do so through my art.鈥�
Asia has turned her artistic passion into a profitable business by designing many of the mortarboards seen during Tuskegee鈥檚 recent graduation ceremonies.
鈥淭he idea came last year when a graduating senior took notice of my work. I remember him saying that he would occasionally see my architecture design buildings, drawings and paintings, so one day he asked me if I had ever painted a grad cap,鈥� she explains. 鈥淎fter designing his mortarboard, I posted my work on social media, and to my surprise, I received many positive comments and others asking for my services.鈥�
Asia says each grad cap takes about a week to create: one day to sketch, followed by two to three days of painting and another day to let it dry. This year, six members of the class of 2019 sported Asia鈥檚 one-of-a-kind designs 鈥� several of which were three-dimensional.
Looking toward the future
After completing the five-year architecture undergraduate program, Asia plans to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in architecture and become a licensed architect.
鈥淟ess than 2% of black women in architecture are licensed, and I want to be the one who can later inspire more women of color to consider this type of career,鈥� Asia says.
Ultimately, she aspires to teach architecture and educate future generations or architectural professionals.
鈥溈劭鄞絟as helped me realize and appreciate the person I have become,鈥� she notes. 鈥淭here are people here who see things in you that we sometimes overlook ourselves. Being in this environment, filled with so many of my peers who look like me is like an extra push, and that makes me want to continue to be the best.鈥�
漏 2019, 扣扣传媒University