By Michelle Barrett, Freelance Writer
Reading the evening newscast in the studios of FAME FM. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
MOST TEENAGERS have no interest in or know little of the country's budget debate normally scheduled around the beginning of April each year.
But 13-year-old Hume Johnson ignored exciting extra-curricular after-school activities and rushed home to view presentations given by the government ministers in the House of Representatives on the state of the economy.
Each minister's presentation, delivered the day before, would be the topic of lunch discussions at school the next day among Hume and her 'select' group of friends.
"My schoolmates at the time, thought we were a weird bunch. We discussed the state of the economy, current affairs and politics as if we were talking about last night's soap opera," says a smiling Miss Johnson while reminiscing on her days at Ferncourt High School, Claremont, St. Ann, where she was a fiery member of the school's Debating Club and an outspoken student representative on the School Board.
PLANS
It is no wonder then that this graduate of the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), at the University of the West Indies, Mona, plans to pursue a doctoral degree in Political Science on a scholarship at the University of Waikoto in Hamilton, New Zealand later this year.
Miss Johnson, who hails from the tiny, hilly district of Tart Grove, near Claremont, St Ann, has made impressive achievements during her 27 years on this earth.
In addition to being a news reader at FAME, she has worn several hats, among them production assistant of the locally-produced teen shows "Rappin'" and "Impressions", news presenter at JIS, publicist for reggae artiste, Tony Rebel, a member of the Prime Minister Youth Advisory Council and speech writer. Also she is a prolific letter writer to the opinion pages of The Gleaner.
"Miss Betty's little daughter" as Miss Johnson was often called while growing up in her rural community in south east St. Ann, has always had an interest in politics, the weather and the media. In fact, she wanted to become a meteorolgist and was fascinated by the work of Roy Forrester, the former Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation weatherman.
"I was fascinated by what he did and how he presented the weather reports to the public. Inspired by him, I started studying Geography, but didn't stick with it as I had difficulty reading maps," said Miss Johnson in the comfort of FAME studios on Lyndhurst Road, Kingston.
QUESTIONS
She eventually dropped Geography but her curiosity in the media was later aroused when a "Rappin'" crew from the Creative Production Training Centre (CPTC) went to do an outside broadcast at Ferncourt High School. She was attracted by the technology in the mobile unit and barraged Robert Teape, now the CPTC's chief engineer, with questions about broadcasting.
"She was totally into it. She was asking a lot of questions about the truck, the cameras, the sound everything. I could see then that she was deeply interested in broadcast media," said Mr. Teape.
Her probing mind later led her to meet and be tutored by Wycliffe Bennett, former executive director of CPTC, who was also responsible for training Lisa Hanna Panton, a former 'Miss World', journalist Yvonne Chin, radio broadcasters Simone Clarke and Paula-Anne Porter, just to name a few.
Mr. Teape also recalled her professionalism in her work, noting that she was always willing to go a step further, not satisfied that she should just do a 'good' job but to do her best at all times.
"I believe with that attitude and determination, she is going to reach where she wants to go," commented Mr. Teape.
Miss Johnson's academic journey has been a part of the dream of her teacher-mother Elizabeth Tucker, as she always instilled in her children the importance of being well-educated.
"My mother wasn't interested in what we did career-wise, she just demands that we stick to our books and pursue our education," said Miss Johnson of her mother, an early childhood educator. Miss Johnson's father died after a short bout of illness when she was only two months old.
POLITICS
Although her previous studies led her into journalism, Miss Johnson describes her switch to political studies as a means of making a better contribution to humanity. The contribution, she hopes to make is by lecturing to the young minds at the University of the West Indies when she returns home on completion of her studies.
"I'm from a geographic area where the political culture runs deep, so I've seen how critical the role of politics is, especially if it is taken seriously. Let's face it, there are issues such as health, education and regional integration which are far bigger and more important than any political party. And until politicians understand that, then we will always be caught in partisan politics while the real problems, which the country faces, get brushed aside," she commented.
Does she intend to enter representational politics? "For now, I see myself making my contribution through academia, but who knows what the future might bring?" she asked.
By the time this interview is published, Miss Johnson would have already reached her destination in New Zealand. Regarding her future, Miss Johnson said that although the next three and a half years will find her in a strange land, she hopes to maintain contact with her relatives and friends.
Before leaving, she had this to say, "At present, I do not despair for my future or for the future of this country as I remain very optimistic. Someone once said to me, 'You're not brave if you're not scared' and that has been my philospohy ever since."
Bon Voyage Hume!
