Jarrod Johnson is a junior at Tennessee Temple Academy. This is his first year at the Academy. He is a member of the football and basketball teams.

Q: An interesting set of circumstances brought you to Tennessee Temple. Can you talk about those?

A: “Yeah, my mother is in the military and she was stationed in Korea for two years. So I moved from Huntsville to Chattanooga.”

Q: Why Chattanooga?

A: “This is where my mom is from, and I’ve got a lot of family here. My grandma. . . aunts, uncles, cousins.”

Q: One of your cousins is (student body president) Brandon Andrews. You are living with him and his family. How has Brandon helped you out, and how good has it been for you to have family here as you have had to make the transition to a new city and a new school?

A: “Brandon’s been great. He’s been around Temple for a while, so he knows everybody here. As for having a lot of my family here, that’s been good, too. It’s nice knowing I have them here to support me and come to my games. If something ever comes up, I can just go to one of them.”

Q: A lot of people don’t realize it, but you have lived in a lot of different places. How has that helped you?

A: “It has helped a lot. I’ve moved so much that I’m used to it. I was born in Germany, I lived in Japan for four years. I’ve lived in Chattanooga, Huntsville, California, Virginia, Nashville, Oklahoma City. . .I’ve lived all over.”

Q: You and your mom are close. How badly do you miss her?

A: “I miss her a lot. We get to talk just about every day, but it’s still not the same has having her near to me.”

Q: How has your first year been at Temple?

A: “It’s been good. I like it here. It’s a lot different from public schools. The environment is different. There’s really no peer pressure. I’ve had to make some adjustments, but nothing major. It’s been all good. Mr. Andrews always says ‘Adjust, adapt and overcome.’ That’s one of his mottos that I go by.”

Q: You and some of the other basketball guys came out for football about midway through the season and made a significant impact. How fun was that?

A: “It was a lot of fun. It was the first time I had played since the 8^th grade. I like the games more than the practices (laughs). I’m thinking about playing next year.”

Q: Basketball is your favorite sport. It seems like it to you a while to find your niche on the team, but ever since then you have been playing at a high-level. Can you talk about that?

A: “It took some time to get used to the coaches and the players. But it has gotten a lot better as the season has gone on.”

Q: Who is your favorite teacher?

A: “Mr. Duncan.”

Q: Who is your favorite coach?

A: “Coach Alexander.”

Q: A lot of the kids here at the Academy seem to look up to the older guys, especially you and Brandon? Do you enjoy being a role model for them?

A: “Yeah, it’s fun. We just try to have fun with them. They mess with us, so we mess with them. Sometimes, we have to put them in their place (laughs).”