Special to the Flash
Saturday, May 4th is a special day for every graduate at Jackson State University, but for Charlene and Charlotte Johnson and their mother, Tegra Johnson, it is an extraordinary day.
“Graduation means everything to me,” said Charlene. “It’s especially special because I not only get to share this day with my best friend and sister, but also my mom. It’ll always be a memorable day and I’ll celebrate May 4 every year from now on.”
That’s right, not only will twins Charlene and Charlotte, who are members of the Prancing J-Settes, receive their undergraduate degrees in health care administration, so will mom Tegra.
“Words cannot express how excited I am to be walking with my girls, it’s a great feeling,” said Tegra Johnson. “It just reminds me that anything is possible and walking with them will be a cherished moment we will share forever.”
The twins will be very comfortable sharing the stage with their mother especially since they have been sharing class and study time as well as having her support their dance performances throughout college.
Mother and daughter Charlene recall what it was like being in class together.
“I remember walking into Dr. Ochai’s class and I saw Charlene. I was floored. I was saying to myself it was bound to happen, but of course I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing, you know make a good impression in class. The next semester I had Charlotte and the last semester I had them both. It was not as crazy as I thought I would be. It was kind of fun,” said (Tegra) Johnson.
Charlene said she remembers walking into class, sitting down in the seat in front of her mom and not noticing her at first. “It was a 5 p.m. Statistics of Healthcare class, and when I looked up and saw her, I said ‘what are you doing here?’ It was funny, but it’s been fun; it’s been good.”
(Tegra) Johnson’s journey to the graduation finish line has taken a while. In addition to Charlotte and Charlene, her son, Chris is a junior at Jackson State and daughter Chasidy is a sophomore at the University of Southern Mississippi. They are from Clinton, Miss.
“My academic adventure was just that an adventure. I’ve been attending Jackson State for so long I can’t remember when I actually started. I had to take classes here and there because of my work schedule. I also had to sit out several times. I thought I would never get to this point but I finally made it with the guidance of the Lord. It was hard but my children served as my motivation and I hope I was their motivation,” the mother of four said.
As is common, twins share a lot and have many things in common; such is the case for the young ladies, but they have differences. Charlene, who is the oldest by 30 minutes, and Charlotte just celebrated their 22nd birthday on March 22.
“We don’t like to be compared to each other. Growing up as twins has been a lot of fun, but when we reached 6th or 7th grade, that’s when all the comparisons started. ‘She’s the nice twin or she’s the mean twin. She looks or dances better etc.” said Charlotte. “In middle school I played basketball while Charlene danced, but about six months after she started dancing I joined the team as well. We have a lot of the same likes and dislikes such as foods, hobbies, and career goals.”
Charlene said: “We did not always do the same things. Charlotte, growing up, was kind of like a tomboy and I’ve always been a girly girl. She played basketball, and ran track. I would just watch.” We, for the most part, have the same likes and dislikes. Our style is very similar. We’ve never been competitive toward one another but throughout our dancing “career” one, if not both, of us has always held a leadership position over each other.”
Graduation is a big deal for all the Johnson women, and Jackson State is special to all of them.
Tegra Johnson said, “ It’s a really big accomplishment for me. My children know my story and my struggle, they know how hard life was for me. I chose to be a mom very early in my life which meant I had to put my education on hold. My children have always come first in my life and once I set the pattern for them I figured it was my turn to go back to school. I have four children and all of them know they have to go to college. I have never said anything different their entire life.”
Charlotte said what she loves the most about JSU “is the family feeling I get when I’m with my peers or when we are out at a game and they’re cheering for us, or when we beat another school in some activity. “It feels like we are all one big family.”
Charlene said she loves everything about JSU but considers her experience as a J-Sette to be a highlight.
“Jackson State is just an amazing school with a lot of love! From teachers to students to security, lol! I love it all. But if I had to choose one thing I would say my experience as a Prancing J-Sette is what I love most and that’s because it taught me so much,” said the older twin. “Beyond what people see on the field and in the stands, J-Settes teach you how to deal with everyday life, how to be a woman, to take care of yourself in all ways, time management, how to be an ambassador of goodwill for Jackson State University!
Speaking of being a J-Sette, both of the young woman said time management and staying focused is what helped them make it to graduation day.
Charlene said: “School was never an issue for me when it came to J-Settes. I’m a very organized person so I made sure my work was done before practice. Each fall I had the perfect schedule to make sure I could do my work in time. I never let the title and “fame” of being a Prancing J-Jette get to my head. I remembered what my priority was here at Jackson State. You would always hear the saying “J-Settes (are) not going to give you a degree.”
Charlotte echoed her sister’s sentiments.
“I came to JSU to get a degree first and foremost, everything else come second including J-Settes, so I had to manage my time well to be successful in my academics and dance career. I was very much use to dancing, doing homework and studying late, and working, so I was able to overcome the challenges of not getting enough sleep or doing a 5-page paper two days before its due.”
She added: “A typical season is very time consuming, hardly any social time. It is basically class, work, practice, homework, practice, study, eat, sleep, and repeat. Traveling was fun, but many times we’d have to take our work with us and do it on the bus or study while we’re on the bus so that we are successful in our academics.”
From their mother’s perspective, the girls always had her support and encouragement.
“I am very proud of my daughters. I taught them to be fearless and if they want to do something, go out and do it and give it all that you have. I taught them to have fun in anything that they do, and most of all they know I will be there supporting them,” said Johnson.
After graduation, both Charlotte and Charlene have the same plans — to attend nursing school at either the University of Mississippi Medical Center or Hinds. Charlene declares: “I’m done dancing.” Mother Tegra will head to graduate school for her master’s.
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