At Emmett J. Conrad High School, it’s his presence in JROTC that leaves the deepest mark.
A senior with plans to join the Navy after college, his journey through JROTC became less about rank and more about the people beside him.
“As long as I’m with my friends and other students, that’s my favorite part,” Jordan said. “We talk, collaborate, and have fun.”
Jordan first joined JROTC to fulfill a physical education requirement. What kept him there were the relationships he built along the way.
Through JROTC teams like archery, marksmanship, and the JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl, he found both his strengths and his community.
“We keep each other ready and prepared, but we also have a good time,” he said. “It’s about being there for each other, even outside of JROTC.”
Before JROTC, Jordan said he never considered joining the military.
“I thought it was super serious,” he said. “But it’s not like that. You meet a lot of people.”
That decision would ultimately change the trajectory of his future – Jordan recently earned a $200,000 Navy ROTC scholarship.
“It hasn’t fully hit me yet,” he said. “I try not to think about how big of a deal it is.”
This fall, he will attend the University of Texas at Austin to study electrical and computer engineering, entering with enough credits to begin as a junior. He then plans to work as an engineer for the Navy.
Vivian Chandler Fairley, principal of Conrad, said Jordan’s success reflects the strength of the JROTC program.
“It bridges academic and military readiness, allowing students to use their knowledge to participate in academic competitions,” she said.
Jordan’s impact extends well beyond JROTC.
He joined the swim team as a freshman, continuing a family tradition that was started by his older brothers when they were in high school. Jordan is also in the National Honor Society, student council, orchestra, and a student ambassador for the Pathways in Technology program.
“Jordan is the model of what it means to take advantage of multiple opportunities,” Fairley said. “He represents our goal of preparing students to succeed and make the world a better place.”
Jordan hopes his legacy at Conrad is that he encouraged others to take chances.
“Try new things,” he said. “Even if it’s small, it’s something. Make something out of yourself.”
