My name is Craig Johnson and I am 23 years old. I graduated from UNC-Greensboro in May of 2008 with a BFA in Art+Design. Since graduation I have worked as a web designer, I have worked at Lowes, volunteered at Habitat for Humanity in Asheville, NC, have been a substitute teacher, as well as attended UC Berkeley for two months doing graduate work in architecture. And now I am planning to ride a bicycle across the United States…
Yeah. I said it—a bicycle. I am going to join around 29 other young adults in riding a bicycle 4,164 miles from Charleston SC, to Santa Cruz CA in three months. For more information on that visit: http://tinyurl.com/ybfsaww or for more information on the Bike and Build non-profit visit: http://tinyurl.com/ykhr7ks.
I was born in Asheville, North Carolina on May 10th 1986. I grew up playing organized sports of all sorts, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and yes even bicycling. I attended Asheville High School where I played baseball, football, and city-league basketball. After high school, I attended UNC-Greensboro where I majored in Art. It was in Greensboro where I first heard about Bike and Build from a friend of mine named Renee Wheelock. I became very interested but I couldn’t get involved due to obligations over the summer—but I knew that the day would come.
After I graduated from UNC-Greensboro I backpacked in Thailand for a month, and returned to my hometown of Asheville to find a job. A job was found but lets just say I never really left Thailand. All I could think about was the amazing world out there and I am here—right where I started. After a few months I went out on my own doing freelance work, and then took employment with Lowes where I saved money so that I could finance my next move—wherever it may take me.
Ever since my senior year in high-school I have been interested in architecture, partly because I grew up around it….ha..ha. Actually my dad is an architect and I was dragged to AIA conventions since as far back as I can remember. In March of 2009 I applied at UC Berkeley for a summer graduate study in architecture. I was finally given the chance to study a field that I have wanted to for quite some time, at a reputable university, and get graduate credit hours—and I loved it.
After Berkeley, I came back home and worked as a substitute teacher in the Asheville City School System. And you thought going to your high-school reunions was weird—try being a substitute teacher at your high school. During that time I put together applications and portfolios to send to architecture schools all around the country, as well as sign up for something I have been wanting to do for a few years now—Bike and Build.
While working at Lowes I was volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity Home Store in Asheville, NC once a week. I had a lot of fun helping out there and I look forward to continuing to do that this semester while I continue my education in preparation for graduate school. After Bike and Build is over I hope to be enrolled in graduate school. However, regardless of whether I am enrolled or not, I am positive that in August I will have a much better appreciation for my country, and the people and buildings that occupy it.
