National Merit Commended Student: Griffin Johnson ’25

For Griffin Johnson, learning has always come naturally—not because of long nights of cramming or endless hours of flashcards, but because of genuine curiosity. “I’ve always been inquisitive,” he said. “I loved to read or watch YouTube to learn more about things I was interested in. When it came time to take PSAT, I didn’t do any special preparation. I just went in with the mindset that if I stayed present and thought logically, I’d do alright.”

That mindset clearly worked. Griffin was recently recognized as a National Merit Commended Student, an honor earned by fewer than 3% of students nationwide. His approach to test-taking reflects the thoughtful, balanced way he approaches most things in life: “It’s not about what you know; it’s about eliminating what doesn’t make sense and recognizing patterns. It’s a logical process.”

At Holy Family, Griffin has found ways to stay engaged both in and outside the classroom. He’s a manager for girls volleyball, plays on the boys volleyball team, competes in Math League, Mock Trial, and DECA, and serves as a superfan at countless Fire events. He’s also a member of the Holy Family Honor Society and volunteers regularly at Feed My Starving Children.

Despite a packed schedule of academics and activities, Griffin believes balance is key. “You can take a lot of challenging classes, but if you’re not interested in what you’re learning, it’s harder to stay motivated,” he said. “The biggest thing is just to show up and listen—about 70% of learning is paying attention.”

Holy Family teachers, he said, have played a big role in helping him prepare for what’s next. “They support and help you as you need it, but they trust you to do your best. As you mature as a student, they treat you more like a college student than a high school kid. That kind of trust makes you want to rise to their expectations.”

As he looks ahead to college, where he plans to major in accounting, Griffin knows he’ll miss the community that has shaped him since his earliest days. “I’ve gone to school with some of these people since Pre-K, and some of them I’ve grown close to over the last four years,” he reflected. “Holy Family really is more than a school, as cliché as it sounds, it’s a family. That’s why I came here in the first place. You can feel it.”

His favorite memory captures that sense of joy and connection perfectly: “Homecoming this year—we had a big group of friends at dinner, and there happened to be live music outside. Everyone started singing and dancing. It was just one of those moments you can’t plan. It was perfect.”

Griffin’s story reminds us that academic success doesn’t always come from relentless studying or perfect attendance; it often comes from curiosity, perspective, and a love for the people and environment around you.