The Constant: Four-Year Starter Overcomes Hurdles to Become Leader in the Locker Room
JORDAN BOOTH HAS BEEN A CONSTANT WITHIN THE WOODLANDS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY VOLLEYBALL LOCKER ROOM SINCE HER FRESHMAN YEAR. BEFORE THAT TOO, WHEN SHE HUNG AROUND THE VARSITY SQUAD WHEN HER OLDER SISTER, RYANN, PLAYED.
“Volleyball has been a huge part of my life as long as I can remember,” she said. “These are my best friends, my family."
“It started to hit me in the summer. This is it, the last season playing the sport I love with the people I love. It’s sad to think about but I have been just cherishing every practice, bus ride and game all season.”
The four-year starter looks back on her career with fond memories and a piece of advice for her younger self.
“I would have told myself as a freshman to have fun,” she laughed. “Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. I definitely did. I wanted to be perfect, but as a freshman you aren’t going to be perfect. You are going make a bunch of mistakes.”
As she got her legs under her, the all-district accolades began to pile up. She developed into a leader and will leave a lasting legacy at TWCA.
“TWCA has been a great experience,” she said. “It’s such a small, tight-knit community that you literally know everyone in your grade. You become friends with everyone. The teachers are great and really take the extra-effort with you. It’s a family.”
As her career wraps up, she looks to the future with pinpoint focus.
“I’d like to go to Texas A&M or Baylor,” she said. “I want to become a nutritionist and help people with their diets and overall health.”
That field of study hits close to home for Booth.
At 12-years-old, Booth stopped eating and dropped weight that she couldn’t afford to. Her family took her to several specialists, and she was eventually diagnosed with Crohn’s disease – which causes the swelling of tissue in the digestive tract.
“I remember being at a volleyball tournament in junior high and couldn’t move because of incredible stomach pain,” she said. “I was trapped in a sitting position and my dad had to pick me up in that position and carry me to the hotel. I couldn’t move.
“I never really wanted to talk about it with my friends. It was kind of weird and I didn’t want people to make fun of me, honestly. I finally just let me guard down and just accepted it. I still have flare ups every now and then, but it's under control and I can talk about it now.”
The senior hasn’t let Crohn’s disease define her over the years, however, her personality, perseverance and play have.
“Our volleyball team has really leaned in to learning how to put other people before yourself,” Booth said. “It’s about the good of the group, before the good of yourself. It’s really a powerful life-lesson that I will take with me when I leave and always try and practice.”
QUICK TAKES
If a movie was made about your life, what actress would you want to play you? Sadie Sink
Who has been your biggest influence? My mom. She’s the most selfless person I know.
If you didn’t play volleyball, what sport would you have played? I’m not good at it but gymnastics. It looks really fun.
What do you do outside of volleyball? I like to read. I’m a Hunger Games type of girl.
What music does your team play before a game? We have a big speaker and just play and dance to party music.