Lindero sixth-grade student has big aspirations

Zachary Johnson As part of his grand plan of becoming a business leader and perhaps even the president of the United States, Lindero Canyon Middle School sixth-grader Zachary Johnson will participate in the People to People World Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. from April 17 to 23.

"I believe it's an honor that I get to be a part of such an incredible program," Zachary said. "I'm extremely excited."

According to Johnson's mother, Renee, Zachary is a natural-born leader who's dreamed of becoming president since he was just a tyke. But, at 11 years old, Zachary admits that he also enjoys theater and will likely try his hand at business before running for president in 2030 when he turns 35, the earliest age requirement for the top job in America.

Zachary's laser-like focus so impressed his teachers that he was the only student from White Oak Elementary to be nominated for the People to People program in fifth grade.

People to People International was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 as an organization dedicated to enhancing international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities around the world.

Students are nominated and accepted into the program based on outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement and leadership potential.

Zachary demonstrates all three qualities with ease. He was chosen to participate on the student leadership council through the city of Westlake Village, is a member of the school's site council, active in Boy Scouts, takes piano lessons and is a member of his school's Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) group.

Johnson added that her son was named the Most Likely to Rule the World by the staff at the First Neighborhood Day Camp last year.

As for Zachary's equal passion for everything business, Johnson said her son got a taste of working for a living when he was a youngster, starring in Mattel and McDonald's commercials and posing for print ads.

The People to People program will afford Zachary and other students the opportunity to explore the characteristics of American leadership by visiting Capital Hill, the Smithsonian Institute, Colonial Williamsburg and the National Museum of History.

"Forum delegates will participate in small group discussions and exercises to experience first-hand how successful leaders develop strategies, make decisions, build consensus and foster change," said a statement from the organization.

Zachary loves the theater and recently performed in "Hello Dolly" at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, playing Stanley. If the opportunity to portray Horace Vandergelder in the play arose, Zachary would have been ready as the male lead understudy.

"He was just born already an adult," Johnson said. "I don't know where it came from. He is very confident in front of a crowd."

When Zachary was in third grade, his teacher, Lorna Maxwell, added his name to the ballot for California governor.

Zachary said he enjoys leadership positions because he can control situations and "make society a better place to live in." He said the biggest problem facing our culture is prejudice and racism. "I just don't like that."

The People to People program, Zachary said, will help build his knowledge and offer him new "skills and tactics" to manage different situations. But there's that acting bug that keeps tugging at Zachary's heartstrings.

"I am very fond of acting, just anything that puts me in the limelight," he said.