Jordan Gaither

My name is Jordan Gaither. My motto is, "It's easier to succeed than to fail". I have experienced both success and failure in three major life areas of my life: as a leader, an athlete, and a scholar. My ultimate purpose in life is to use my God given skill, talent, ability, and experience (both good and bad), to become a lawyer and an entrepreneur. As an attorney, I would like to focus on entertainment and sports management. As an entrepreneur, my ultimate goal is to establish nonprofit organizations to empower children (especially foster and
adopted children) to work hard, get a good education, and reach their dreams. I would also like to establish an inner city basketball camp for underprivileged boys.

I began my athletic experience at the age of four, playing
baseball and basketball. I was blessed to be good at both and eventually I had to choose one sport over the other. I chose basketball and had the privilege of traveling across the country playing AAU. As a freshman, I was chosen to start, on my high school varsity basketball team. I received my varsity
letter as a sophomore and in my senior year, I was captain of the varsity team.

While I excelled in basketball, I allowed my grades to
suffer and I went from being on the BETA club (grades with honor), to grades below average. All of my life I had been
told that I was a leader, but in my sophomore year, I wasn't a good example of a leader off the court. As a result of
hard work, tutoring, and prayer, I was able to turn my situation around. My accomplishments in high school included
being president of the Shiloh Community Choir, winner of the vocalist award in the Shiloh Talent Show, voted Mr. Shiloh, Mr. Freshman, and Mr. Sophomore.

As a freshman on a basketball scholarship at Tennessee State
University, I realize how important it is to stay focused and balanced as a "student-athlete". It is easier to
succeed than fail, but until you fail, you will never appreciate having a second chance to succeed.