“They made me a better person”

Jordan Sewell started his junior year at Southern University this fall and is on track to become the first person in his family to go straight from high school to college graduation.

“The Friendship House paved the way for me to go to college. They made me a better person and a better student.” – Jordan Sewell, Southern University junior

Community Renewal has played a big role in his accomplishments.

“The Friendship House paved the way for me to go to college. I would not have made it this far and I may not have graduated from high school without the Friendship House,” he said.

“They made me a better person and a better student. They looked at me like I could be a leader and they never let me follow the wrong crowd.”

Jordan is majoring in computer science and would like to work in cybersecurity after graduation. He grew up in the Allendale neighborhood, where his family includes his mother, an older brother and three younger sisters. He joined the Friendship House Kids Club while in the fourth grade.

“The Friendship House was amazing. I had wonderful mentors. I will always love Community Renewal because of that,” he said.

“A Friendship House is a place where you can come and know that people care about you. They keep you out of trouble and they keep you off the streets.”

Jordan was motivated by the Report Card Dinners, in which students at the Friendship House are rewarded with a free dinner for having good grades.

“I never missed one,” he said. “That inspired me because I knew if I did good I would get that reward.”

One valuable lesson he learned at the Friendship House was to set goals and strive to reach those goals. His goals now also include having a stable job, a healthy family and the ability to give back. For example, he would love to start a scholarship fund one day.

“The Friendship House showed me anything is possible if you are willing to do the work,” he said.

“You don’t want to stop your dreams in your teens. Get your high school diploma and then see what’s next. Keep your dreams alive.”