Emily “E.J.” Johnson: “My Name” (Grad Sunday)

Before I went to college, I had various nicknames. While my name is Emily, my dad calls me Tulip, my mom calls me Emiloo or M&M, and my Uncle Chaz calls me Emmers. When I came to Pres House in September 2021, I introduced myself as Emily Johnson. But, there were two things. Firstly, I was one of three Emilys: Emily Danielson, Amelie Rosehagen, and, of course, me, Emily Johnson (and I’m not even the only Emily Johnson who’s been at Pres House; there was one who graduated just before me). Secondly, there was a trend in the community where people were given nicknames, such as Tito for Olivia Avery, Trains for Ben Tan, and Goose for Emily Danielson.

One day in October, after service, I was getting dinner on my plate. Next to me was Nii Addo. He asked me, “Can I call you EJ?” I thought about it for a second. I said, “Sure!”

Ever since that day, everyone at Pres House has called me EJ. While this is just a nickname at my church, the name spread to other communities I’m with. People ask me, “Why do some people call you EJ?” I reply, “Because that’s my Pres House name.” They think about the name for a second and say, “I like it! I’m gonna call you EJ now.” Because of this, most of the people I know call me EJ.

It’s even gotten to me, too, the nickname. I’ve spent so much time at Pres House these past four years that I usually don’t answer those who call me Emily. It takes me a couple of seconds to realize someone is calling me if they use that name.

The reason I’m telling you this story is not just an explanation about my name. It’s because something occurred to me recently while I was reflecting on the past four years. For the rest of my life, people will continue to address me by my Pres House name, EJ. From the new family I have found here on campus to the new ones along the way who will stumble upon this nickname, somebody will call me EJ. No matter where I go or what I do, Pres House will always be with me.

While I can’t linger in this building forever (though I wish I could!), I will always have this chapel, those ever-lumpy couches in the lounge, those hours at the “lock-in” table though we never “lock-in,” this damn good communion bread, the baked ziti that John makes, the time when Mackenzie and Ashley could not find anyone during sardines at Winter Retreat 2023, the #mayhem and #twoplusplus channels on the Discord server, laughing and crying with my pastors in their offices, my best friends, my family, and my name.

I hope you all find a way to get something this special out of Pres House, or even another community that means just as much to you as Pres House does to me. And I hope that when you hear that thing, or touch that thing, or see that thing, you feel loved.

Emily Johnson (she/they) graduates in May 2025 with a B.A. in environmental studies and history with a certificate in sustainability.