CONVOCATION RECAP: STUDENTS REACT TO WILLIE “THE BAM” JOHNSON’S POWERFUL TESTIMONY

Takoma Park, Maryland—Students and faculty assembled at the Sligo Church sanctuary this Wednesday at 11:15 a.m., marking WAU’s second Convocation of the academic year. The guest speaker for this event was Willie “The Bam” Johnson, a seven-time karate and kung fu world champion and a two-time all-American champion. As a Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame member, Johnson is known for his dynamic, universal approach to developing physical, mental and spiritual fitness.

As the pews began to fill and attendees trickled in, Johnson assumed control of the microphone and began his speech. In it, he guided the audience through his inspirational, if not improbable, life story.

Johnson’s remarkable journey began in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in a challenging neighborhood, surrounded by adversity, and eventually found himself entangled in a life of crime. However, after being incarcerated at a young age, Johnson made a life-altering decision to “beat the odds” that seemed stacked against him. He pursued his lifelong passion for martial arts, eventually reaching the top achieving worldwide recognition. He has also been featured in several films and television shows. He has founded and created multiple organizations dedicated to empowering young individuals and motivating others to overcome adversity.

In his address, Johnson underscored three fundamental principles for achieving success: honesty, openness, and willingness. These principles, along with trust in God, he emphasized, serve as the basis for personal and spiritual growth and development, echoing his journey from adversity to achievement.

“The first person I had to be honest with is myself and God,” Johnson claimed. “Nobody else.”

At the end of the Convocation, some students took a moment to reflect on Johnson’s words.

Kosquille Jackson-Seales, a Religion major, says he appreciated how Johnson stressed “creating a structure for your life.” His main takeaway: “planning for success.”

“If you’re in the midst of turbulence in your mind or in your situation, you may not be in the best place right now,” he said. “But even when you’re struggling, make a plan for your life because maybe one day you can counter all these things.”

Jackson-Seales’s peer, Desca Samuel, a Music and Fine Arts major with a minor in urban religious studies, found the event informative and inspiring.

“To be able to keep your body as a temple of Christ and to be able to focus on the words of the Scripture is very important,” she said. “Johnson inspires people because he shows that just because life deals you a bad hand of cards, that doesn’t define you and doesn’t mean you have to continue to live your life that way. It’s up to you to change it. You are the deciding factor in your life.”