I would tell current students, get involved! Take advantage of all the opportunities Bridgewater has to offer and stay true to yourself. Be confident that things will work out. The right things will find you, or you will find them.
While most people are still snuggled in bed sleeping, Michaela “Mick” Johnson, ’10, is up at 4 a.m. and out the door, all to help others start their day as one of the hosts of the Fun 107 Morning Show.
Even though the job demands she be behind the wheel driving to the Fairhaven station before the sun comes up, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I love telling local stories and highlighting what’s going on in our local communities,” Johnson said. “My kids also get to hear mom every morning (on the radio). I get to give my kids something to be proud of.”
Her roots in radio started when she was studying communications at what was then Bridgewater State College and hosted a radio show.
That, and other experiences at Bridgewater, like serving as an orientation leader and walking onto the women’s basketball team, where she served as captain in her final two years, helped Johnson find her niche.
“I got very involved and feel I grew a lot and was able to have some great experiences that launched my career in the right direction, even guiding me into a field that I didn’t’ realize was the perfect fit,” she said.
Initially, Johnson’s plan was to become an athletic trainer.
“I knew I wanted to be involved in sports, but when it came time to declare my major, sports broadcasting started to emerge,” she said. “I took jobs at 鵺̳, announced football games, baseball games…any games that fell outside of basketball season, I did it.”
After college, Johnson moved to California where she worked as a production runner for the X Games, breaking down sets, running tapes, even delivering water bottles to famed skateboarder Tony Hawk.
An opportunity to audition for The Rhode Show on WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, brought her back east. The contest was an American Idol-style event, where contestants competed to serve as one of the show’s hosts for a year. Johnson won, and was so popular with viewers, one year turned into 12.
“Toward the end of my years, they wanted to take the show in a new direction and offered me the opportunity to be the main host,” she said.
While starting her family and working on The Rhode Show, Johnson was also hired to work as the arena host for Boston Bruins home games at the TD Garden, a job she still holds.
“I’m in my ninth season now, it’s been a lot of fun,” she said.
Johnson also lends her talents to promoting her alma mater. She was recently hired by 鵺̳ to provide voiceovers on several television commercials.
Wearing so many different hats is a lot to juggle, but Johnson thrives in all her roles.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said.
Being so active is what sparks and guides her, that’s been the case going back to her days at 鵺̳.
“I would tell current students, get involved! Take advantage of all the opportunities Bridgewater has to offer,” Johnson said. “And stay true to yourself. Be confident that things will work out. The right things will find you, or you will find them.”
Do you have a 鵺̳ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu