Featured Friday: Jordan Gilmore Johnson '09

"Rabun Gap is special because of the community and genuine love. I can honestly say that I know people care so much there and want to see students grow and succeed. I also think boarding school brought a special dynamic because friends became sisters and brothers as we were doing life together!"
It’s been a decade since Lt. Jordan Gilmore Johnson ‘09 graduated from Rabun Gap, but the School still feels like home to her. 
 
Originally from Atlanta, GA, she lives in Monterrey, CA with her husband Christian and one-year-old daughter Harper. Jordan serves as an Information Professional Officer under the Information Warfare Community in the Navy and is notably one of the first females to serve on a Naval submarine.
 
Jordan attended all four years of high school at Rabun Gap as a boarding student. She was very active on campus and served as a Gap Guide, prefect, and member of the Honor Council. She was also involved in sports and was on the swimming, volleyball and track teams.
 
After leaving Rabun Gap, she attended Spelman College in Atlanta, GA and received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. She was commissioned to join the Navy after college and is currently pursuing a Masters in Space Systems Operations from the Naval Postgraduate School. 
 
What made you decide to attend Rabun Gap?
I was a part of A Better Chance Program and decided a boarding school would be the best option for me. We looked at a lot of boarding schools but when I visited Rabun Gap, I felt home. That sounds so corny, but it’s the truth! 
 
Tell us about your life in the Navy. How did you decide to go into the Navy?
I wanted to go to the Navy for leadership opportunities and to serve this great country. After my commission, I served on a ship out of Mayport, FL as the Fire Control Officer and then transferred to the Pentagon to work for the Defense Information Systems Agency.

In college, I did a summer cruise on the USS Nebraska. Before commissioning, the Navy requires summer experiences so we can understand first hand how the Navy works before actually going into the fleet. Initially, we were supposed to be on the submarine for two weeks but we got extended due to real-world missions and ended up being one of the first females to do a full deterrent patrol.  The experience was very interesting and I learned a lot about the silent sacrifices our service members and their families make every day by the extension. I learned that summer that service came before myself. 
 
This year is the tenth anniversary since you graduated in 2009! How would you say Rabun Gap has impacted your life since leaving? Did it change you as a person? 
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years! I can say so many things about Rabun Gap! Before I went to Rabun Gap, I was shy and timid. Rabun Gap brought my voice out through serving as a Gap Guide or just simply by making friends from all around the world! It prepared me for interactions and made me a leader before I even considered myself to be one. It pushed me academically where I then found myself overly prepared for college, and it stretched my athletic abilities on the swim team. I will forever be grateful to Rabun Gap, it’s where I grew up. 
 
Are you still in contact with friends you went to school with here?
I am! I speak the most to Ellen Downing ‘09 (now Hoffman), Chrissy Haney ‘09, and Abbey McDaniel ‘09. I am so thankful to Rabun Gap for these beautiful friendships! 
 
Looking back as an adult, what in your mind makes Rabun Gap a special place?
Rabun Gap is special because of the community and genuine love. I can honestly say that I know people care so much there and want to see students grow and succeed. I also think boarding school brought a special dynamic because friends became sisters and brothers as we were doing life together! 
 
What was the greatest lesson being at Rabun Gap taught you?
My greatest lesson was taught by Mr. Brennick, and that was to do the right thing even when no one is watching. I remember it was my senior year in Jane Hall, and Ellen and I were walking to breakfast. There was a piece of paper on the floor and I remember looking at it but walking past it because I felt like I had better things to do. Later on, I found out Mr. Brennick was watching on the camera waiting for someone to pick up the piece of paper and throw it away. I have carried that simple task with me through life. Even if there isn’t a camera, you should be your own camera. If your life was taped, would you be proud of the choices you made behind closed doors? I always want to answer that with a yes. 
 
What's your favorite memory from Rabun Gap?
Wow. I could make a list a mile long of my favorite memories from Rabun Gap. I would say my favorite was being apart of Ellen’s short film and just hanging out with friends. Those laughs will forever be cherished. 
 
What do you miss most about Rabun Gap? 
I miss being in a dorm with someone from every part of the world. That was so special to me and it’s what influenced my chosen major in college, International Studies. I also miss seeing my friends every single day. 
 
What advice do you have for current Rabun Gap students that you wish someone told you during your time at school? 
My advice would be to be present with your time at Rabun Gap. It is an experience you will never be able to duplicate. 
 
Which teacher or coach had the greatest influence on you?
Mr. Brennick had the greatest influence on me. He taught me so many lessons; he was strict but caring and fair. I looked up to him so much and saw him as a father figure. Whether it be in the pool or in daily life, he never allowed me to quit even when I wanted to and I cannot thank him enough for that because it shaped me into who I am today. He instilled values in me that I will teach my children.
 
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Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is a private, coeducational day and boarding school for grades Pre-K through 12. Centrally located between Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC, and Asheville, NC, we prepare young people for college, career, and a lifetime of leadership and service.