Johnny McDonald left Paradise to attend Union Adventist University. Seriously, that is the name of his hometown in California. Maybe you remember the news showing the flames consuming the area in 2018. Nine out of 10 buildings burned down in Paradise, including Johnny’s home.
There’s a new home, but Johnny isn’t there. He left the Sierra Nevada Foothills and traveled to the Midwest. His tightly-knit family would have preferred that he stay closer to home for college. But he heard some nice words about Union from Linda Becker, former VP of Student Life, when she came to serve as interim principal of his school. “She talked to me about the International Rescue and Relief Program, about Union, and how I’d love it,” remembers Johnny. “I thought she’s just doing her spiel. But ever since I came here, the students are great, and I love the staff.”
The staff love him right back. “Johnny has been our super summer worker,” says men’s dean Santi Fernandez. “He single- handedly shaved off projects I’ve had on my list for two years. He put together more than 50 beds for camp meeting on his own.”
Johnny’s ability to take on work is legendary. At his old school, Paradise Adventist Academy, he would volunteer to vacuum or take out the trash. He helped the science teacher grade papers. The school decided it would introduce a student worker award and make Johnny the first recipient. He also won it the next year. “I know I got it twice,” he said as he searched his memory. “I don’t know if I got it a third time or not.”
He hasn’t gotten a trophy at Union, but he was promoted from residential maintenance to a residential assistant (RA) without ever applying. He says his jobs on campus have helped build his confidence and added to his professionalism in talking to people on the phone.
Johnny says he got his work ethic from his mother. “My mom is absolutely the hardest working person I know. And, I guess that’s her love language. She loves us extremely and very strongly.” She takes care of three boys by herself. Johnny lost his father to cancer this spring.
The tragedy interrupted finals so he had to make up assignments and tests. It’s a good thing he is as ready for academic work as for physical labor. This fall he is taking on a heavy class load so he can enter Union’s Nursing Program in January.
Why does Johnny work so hard while some of the rest of us coast downhill? “The rewards, in my view, are what people think of me,” he said. “That’s important because it guides your relationships and it reflects on your character. Obviously, money is also a reward. But the thing that I keep going back to is the relationships. I built a better relationship with Santi and with all the people that I’ve worked around.”
Johnny mentions one more reason for his productive life. “I can’t just sit around,” he said. “I’d get bored.”
Kim Peckhan is director of digital communication at Union Adventist University.
