A U.S. Army Veteran and the Importance of Community

“Look out, world, here I come,” says Marquise Johnson ‘26GS on his future after GS. For the great grad, a strong community has always been the biggest source of joy in his life. After serving as a Paralegal Specialist for the United States Army, Johnson knew that he wanted to follow a path to law and social justice. And with the support of some incredible mentors from Columbia and beyond, the student leader graduates surrounded by a unique GS community and a brand new love for the Arabic language. He reflects on the many ways this community impacted his academic experience and pushed him in ways he never thought possible.

Tell us about your path to GS.

Looking back on my life, I've always found joy in community-based organizations. The idea of giving back to those in need, uplifting those around me, and empowering youth leaders has been central to my life since middle school and into high school. From middle school through my senior year of high school, I participated in Operation Snowball, a youth program focused on teen community advocacy, healthy decision-making, and leadership. From junior high through high school, I was heavily involved in Friends of Rachel, an organization focused on community building and on creating positive school and community cultures by starting a chain reaction of kindness. These programs led me to join the Army in 2018. After spending almost five years on Active Duty as a Paralegal Specialist, I faced numerous personal and professional challenges. Immersed in legal procedures, I discovered a true enjoyment of law and criminal procedure. In 2023, I transitioned from Active Duty to the Army Reserves. I remember initially applying to only two schools, Gonzaga University and Loyola University. I remember speaking with my mentor, now Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Peterson. He challenged me to reach further and to acknowledge the potential he believed I had. It was something I hadn't considered. So I applied to GS and thought nothing of it. I received acceptance letters with scholarships from both schools, and I believed my shot at GS was gone. Several months later, in June, I was watching television when I glanced at my phone and saw an email from Columbia. There it was, the single email that changed my life. The military gave me purpose and meaning, structure and discipline, and experiences and mentors that shaped who I am today. These experiences directly fed into Columbia, giving me the chance to dream of becoming something better and to pursue the opportunity to learn and grow at such a great University. The Army and Columbia shaped who I am today, creating a person focused on giving back to my community and uplifting those around me.

What has been your greatest accomplishment at Columbia?

My time here at Columbia has been a period of reflection, discovery, and exploration. What I've enjoyed most is engaging in student organizations and connecting with my peers. This entire time here at Columbia has been my greatest accomplishment. I never shied away from taking classes I thought were difficult. I dared myself to live up to the potential I knew I could achieve. I participated in student organizations in leadership positions, even when I knew the semester's course load would be difficult. My greatest accomplishment at Columbia has been realizing that I no longer limit my potential. I've removed the mental block that kept me from challenging myself academically. I've faced mental and physical challenges, both from the military and from growing up with six siblings. School was always an experience I never truly enjoyed; it was just something I knew was necessary. It felt like just going through the courses to pass, rather than to learn and grow. Looking back now, I've changed completely. I find enjoyment in taking courses and gaining experiences that are new to me. My confidence in my potential will surely continue to grow, but it certainly has grown throughout my time here.

Tell us about a class at Columbia that was instrumental to you during your time at GS.

For my language requirement, I was selective about which courses I would take to fulfill it. In my time in the Army, I remember talking to Mr. Austen Swaim, an attorney from California who studied Farsi in college for fun. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was in disarray, and Germany was involved in humanitarian missions. Asylum seekers arrived and required support, programs, and resources to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic. Mr. Swaim volunteered to participate in these missions, knowing a language that not many in our positions were fluent in. After that, I started learning Arabic on Duolingo, just for fun. It was then that I told myself I would take Arabic and dare to learn such a complex and beautiful language, culture, and heritage. Arabic was undeniably my most cherished and difficult course throughout Columbia. Even after receiving low grades on tests or quizzes during the 1st year of Arabic, I remained motivated and energized to overcome those grades with a new understanding. After completing the Second Year of Arabic, I remember talking with my Advisor, Dean Lauren Manzino, and asking her not to mark the language requirement as complete just yet. I wanted to continue challenging myself to go further, to push past the minimum requirement. After a good laugh and a great conversation, the checkbox remained empty. The following year, I enrolled in Third Year Arabic and a difficult, upper-level Arabic Grammar class. That academic year was, without a doubt, the most challenging. However, the amount of material and experiences I learned was immense to me. I can certainly say that Arabic was my favorite class, which guided me throughout my time here at Columbia. I certainly would never have gotten through it without Professors Rym Bettaieb and Youssef Nouhi. I owe them both for their extreme encouragement, motivation, and patience.

Without them, I never would have enjoyed my failures while learning the language. Because of them, I kept learning and dared to challenge myself. I have to thank Professor Andrew McCall, one of my favorite professors at Columbia, without a doubt. His expertise, mentorship, and courses guided my individual growth and enjoyment in political science and the law. Exposure to his course shaped my understanding of carceral policy and criminal justice, areas I now plan to pursue as a career. Lastly, I think it would have been impossible to get through GS successfully without Dean Manzino. She has been my advisor, cheerleader, and biggest supporter since the first day at Columbia. Each meeting with her has been helpful not only for addressing short-term requirements but also for connecting each course to the value it can offer me later in my career. Her guidance led me to study Arabic, to push myself to complete a double major, and to never give up.

What advice would you give to a student who's about to start their GS journey?

It may sound cliché, but take every opportunity to go out and enjoy life here at GS. The community is so unique and special, and the value of meeting new people, hearing their stories, and building friendships is an experience that will last a lifetime, even beyond your time at Columbia. Take advantage of all the amazing resources and programs here at GS. Our nontraditional school exposes us to a vast array, and getting to know your peers offers immense value. It offers unique perspectives that have immense value. Remain humble and engage with the community. In my time in the military, I developed a servant-leadership style. The primary goal of a leader is to serve the community and those around you by empowering them with the tools, information, and experience to collaborate and, eventually, replace you. Even if you're not in a leadership role in an organization or club, take the initiative to serve from the front. Go out into the Columbia community and volunteer. Engage with the community and give back. GS is just a stepping stone on the amazing path that lies before you. Make the most of it and enjoy yourself as you experience the amazing community that is GS.

What are your plans for after graduation?

After graduation, I will participate in an internship with Just Ideas, a program founded by the genius activist and professor Dr. Christia Mercer. It's a program focused on prison education, improving the accessibility of quality education for justice-impacted people, a message that I wholeheartedly support. Following my internship, I plan to return to Active Duty for a few months, exposing myself to new areas of the law to continue to round out my professional legal experience. I will take the August 2026 administration of the LSAT and apply to a JD/MBA joint program. After graduating from graduate school, I plan to work in law, focusing on public policy initiatives such as prison education, justice reform, and restorative justice.

I would be remiss if I did not thank my family, friends, and the incredible leaders, attorneys, and people I met during my time in the military. It truly takes a community to raise an individual, and without my community, I would not be where I am today. As an FGLI student, the support and encouragement I receive from my family for my studies are the most beautiful and heartwarming feelings I've ever experienced. To my grandmother and mother, thank you for raising me to be the man I am today. To my sister and brothers, I love you all and thank you for all the support and hardship you’ve given throughout my life. It’s now their turn to challenge themselves in the world. The love from my second family, the Creccos, is the most impactful display of love and encouragement I cannot even put into words. They've taken me in as one of their own, and I cannot thank them enough. GS is so much more than just a school; it's an experience. I thank MILVETS and all the amazing veterans I've met for their compassion, leadership, and encouragement over the years. Without people like them, I wouldn't have had a support group that understands the unique experiences of veterans. I thank the General Studies Student Council and all the members I served with during my years there. My involvement in student organizations that give back and advocate for our community is one of my proudest moments ever. I hope everyone continues their great work! I thank GS and Columbia for the events, programs, and faculty who overwhelmingly support GS students. They value the unique life experiences of GS students and welcome them with open arms. My time here has been amazing and truly transformational. Now it's time to get to work. More to follow.