Goal Reached – Thank You for Supporting Mr. Oakwood 2025!

My name is Daniel Johnson, a junior at Oakwood University, and I’m running for Mr. Oakwood University. My campaign emphasis is to shine a light on the issues that matter to me, like men’s mental health.

Update: I’m honored to now serve as Mr. Oakwood 2025! Thank you to every single person who made this happen. Because of you, the real mission starts now.

Why am I doing this? Because I’ve seen firsthand how a listening ear and a caring heart can save someone. As a freshman class senator, I loved sitting down with classmates to hear their concerns about campus life. Whether it was fixing problems with the dorm or planning better events, I learned what it means to be a servant leader. More importantly, I learned to lead with compassion – the kind of compassion I believe Christ calls us to show each other. My faith inspires me every day to serve with humility, just as Jesus showed when he washed His disciples’ feet. I want every student, especially those who feel overlooked, to know they are loved and heard.

A little about me: I’m kind of a language nerd! I’ve been blessed to learn several languages because I love connecting with people. I speak Spanish fluently (after spending a semester in Argentina ✈️), picked up Brazilian Portuguese during one adventurous weekend, and even learned to read children’s books in Japanese. Now I’m studying Chinese, Korean, and about 150 words in American Sign Language – and French is next! I even audited three Spanish classes (without missing a single session) leading to my wonderful professor advocating for me to join an advanced course.

I’m excited and humbled by these experiences. Each language taught me to appreciate a new culture and showed me how much we all have in common. Why does this matter? Because everyone deserves to be understood. Whether it’s a friend from Brazil or a classmate who is deaf, I want to be able to connect with and serve them. Learning new languages is my way of saying, “I care about you.” It’s one of the ways I try to reflect Christ’s love – by valuing each person’s unique voice. I believe these skills will help me represent our diverse Oakwood family with empathy and respect.

I’m humbly asking for your support. Running for Mr. Oakwood involves organizing events and outreach on campus, and I want to do it in a big way – from hosting men’s mental health workshops to little acts of kindness that make students smile. Would you consider donating to my campaign? Any amount truly helps – even $5 can contribute to a mental health forum or printing encouraging flyers for dorms. Your donation will directly fuel these efforts and help me bring my vision to life. If you’re unable to give financially, your prayers and encouragement mean the world to me as well.

Before you go, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for reading my story and for believing in young people like me. I’m so grateful for my community – family, friends, church members, and Oakwood alumni – who have always supported me. With your help (and by God’s grace), I hope to make you proud as a servant leader who puts others first. Please share this post with anyone who might want to support or pray for our mission

It’s true what they say: it takes a village. I’m blessed that you’re part of mine. Thank you from the bottom of my heart – together, let’s make a difference! ❤️ God bless you.