Scholarships pave Ag student’s path to the Plains

Court Green-Johnson knows a little something about resilience. As a 30-year-old first-generation college student and mother of two, she has overcome quite a few challenges on her way to becoming an Auburn student. And now, on the verge of graduating, the senior animal science major looks back at every bend in the road with gratitude.

“There have been some really hard times — and some sadness,” she said. “But I think those times made me better, stronger and more grateful for the support and opportunities I have now.”

Today, Green-Johnson is a thriving, non-traditional student buoyed by peer, faculty and staff support in the College of Agriculture — along with donor-funded scholarships — making her Auburn experience possible. But there was a time when the idea of attending Auburn, much less graduating, seemed completely out of reach.

Roots and wings

Green-Johnson grew up in the tiny, rural community of Green Pond, Alabama. Like many children who are raised in poverty, her formative years included a mixture of chaos, uncertainty and financial strain. She recognizes that reality now but then, it was just normal life.

 “I grew up really poor. My mom did the best she could, but it was tough. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I looked back and could see that there were ways to prevent living that way,” she said. “I know some people are just dealt a difficult hand in life — I get that. But I don’t want my children growing up worried about whether the light bill has been paid. I want better for them — and for myself.”

Rather than applying to colleges and planning for her future as many teens do, Green-Johnson dropped out of high school at 16, got married and had a baby. She pursued a GED. She even went to cosmetology school. Her path seemed set.

Even still, she had different dreams — the kind of dreams only a college education and the Auburn Family’s generosity can bring to life. As a child, those dreams were of becoming a veterinarian. Life and circumstance changed her course, but some dreams have a way of coming back around, even when they seem impossible.

“Everyone told me I was crazy. Not only would I be the first in my family to go to college, but I have two kids and live hours from Auburn’s campus. Also, my entire family are Alabama fans. I even had a dog named Crimson,” she said. “So, me saying I wanted to go to Auburn to chase my dreams — especially now? They thought I was crazy.”

But Green-Johnson wasn’t crazy. She was just determined.

Grit and determination

She took as many classes as she could at a local junior college and then applied to Auburn. It was a great start, but she knew getting accepted was only the beginning.

“I didn’t have an ACT score, and I definitely didn’t have dual credits or anything like that,” Green-Johnson said. “So, I had to work harder. I took full advantage of community college, grants and working on campus. I also received several scholarships that have helped make this possible.”

Not wanting to uproot her children, she commutes five days a week, four hours a day, to and from Auburn. 

“I record all my class lectures so I can listen to them again while I’m driving,” she said. “I look at my commute as my ‘planning period.’ I use my drive in the morning to get ready for my school day and my drive in the afternoon helps me transition to my family time so when I get home, I’m ready to check backpacks, make sure everyone did their homework, take care of laundry and all of that.”

She’s a pragmatist — even while chasing her dreams — so finding resources on campus to guide her academics, involvement and career aspirations was essential. You might not expect a 30-year-old mother of two to join a sorority, serve as a peer mentor and be involved throughout the college and campus. But that’s exactly what she has done. She also interned with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and discovered her true career passion.

“I learned about extension not long after I got to Auburn,” she said. “It was completely new to me, but I learned everything I could about it. And that’s when I knew this is what I wanted to do. Interning with them just solidified that for me.”

Working in agriculture while helping people sounds like a dream job to Green-Johnson. So, she changed her major and, after graduating in December, she will be the next regional extension agent for Animal Sciences and Forages, working with farmers in Alabama’s Black Belt.

Taking all she can with her when she graduates, she prioritizes her academic knowledge, wonderful memories, and experiential learning, but also the soft skills she’s honed throughout her time at Auburn. 

“There are things outside of what we learn in class that also really matter,” she said. “Like work ethic, personality, being able to talk with people and network, and having a good heart. You can teach people facts out of a textbook but it’s really hard to teach someone how to have compassion or give them the drive to want to do something great.”

Growth and opportunity

Although she has her own unique Auburn story, Green-Johnson is not the first student to embrace the transformative power of an Auburn education, and she won’t be the last. The Auburn Family is committed to ensuring that when students have the will to overcome obstacles and chase their dreams, they can also have the way — even if their path is not a traditional one.

“I feel like I can’t really benefit other people if I don’t benefit myself first,” she said. “I’ve always been passionate about helping people and I guess I realized the only way I would ever be able to do that and be a good role model for my children is to pursue an education.”

Education is powerful. And combined with philanthropy, it provides the freedom to dream bigger dreams — even if those dreams are delayed.

“It’s never too late. That has been my motto this whole time: It’s not too late,” she said. “You really can go back to school. And you really can achieve your dreams.”