Page 23 - Laker Connection Fall 2016

LITTLE Family, BIG Lessons
Clayton State’s Landscape Management Assistant Director proves being small in a big world has no limits
By Erin Fender
Grounded, creative, and most importantly, adaptive are the three best words to describe Trent Johnston and his humble family whom are the largest known family with achondroplasia dwarfism. Trent and Amber Johnston, along with their five children, have a wildly popular reality television show on the TLC network known as The Seven Little Johnston’s, which is entering into its third season this year. Trent also serves as Clayton State’s Assistant Director for Lands- cape Management.
Trent, a very humble and family centric man, has worked for state institutions for 16 years now and recently came to Clayton State. He hasn’t let the fame of the TLC show change his core values nor how he and his family live life.
“We raise our kids to live in the world, not to live at home...in the world around us - when you walk out there...it’s not built for you. We live by the mantra to use your resources, to think crea- tively and be personable,” says Trent.
Trent and Amber Johnston have two biological children, Jonah and Elizabeth. After having two of their own, they sought to expand their fami- ly and adopted Alex from Seoul, South Korea; Anna from Siberia, Russia; and Emma from Chi- na. All 5 children have the same form of dwar- fism as their parents, which is a genetic disorder of bone growth.
Trent and Amber both grew up in homes that were not adapted to their stature and feel strongly that
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