Testimonial From Older Sister About Younger Brother

¶ … Brother

When I reflect on the gifts I have been given, one of the most treasured I have is the gift of having a younger brother. Jordan is 10 years younger than I am, and right now a senior in High School. He plays football and runs track, gets good grades, is a pleasant and helpful person, and is genuinely happy about life. He is not part of any negative clique, does not participate in illicit drugs or excessive drinking, and is always willing to smile and help another. Right now, he has not decided upon a career path, and certainly he might work a bit before making the decision regarding college. This is very typical of Jordan; he would rather be sure of an investment instead of the potential of inconveniencing anyone by jumping into a financial burden like student loans or college expenses.

I wonder, sometimes, in this age of cynicism and a culture that tends to lack empathy, how my family and I were so lucky to have the joys of Jordan in our lives. Even as a small child, R was eager to smile, to laugh, and to share. He always seemed to have a knack for being able to reach into his soul and pull out optimism and trust. For instance, when Jordan volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club he was such a hit that the children kept asking the staff, "When will Jordan be back?" He would patiently help them with their homework, finding stories or other relevant anecdotes to help them understand difficult concepts in a way that was not only not threatening, but also fun. Jordan actually "played" with the children -- not just as a coach teaching them football or basketball, but engaging play in which it looked like he forgot he was older and just let himself go into the moment of experience, all the while retaining a sense of balance and responsibility for the welfare of his charges.

Jordan is a true citizen of the world. He realizes that he comes from a relatively privledged life, one in which hunger and privation never really existed; one in which there was adequate love and respect between family members; and one in which there was never any worries about staying warm, sleeping in a safe environment, and knowing he was loved. Simply put, Jordan gives back to the community in any way he can. He volunteers at the Ronald McDonald house, and when no other work is available, is ready and willing to offer his services as a janitor.

Jordan also rarely slows down. When he is not studying, volunteering, or participating in sporting events, he works part-time at McDonalds. He is so motivated to help with his expenses, that he often plays football until late on Friday nights, and yet regularly gets up early on Saturday mornings to work. He simply would not think of it any other way, as he often says, "Why waste my time while I can work and help out."