Youth Ministry Leader at SDSU Says He Chose Books Over Hoops

Jordan Harrison swears he was one of the last teenagers on earth to get a cell phone. When he finally did, he paid for it himself with money earned working 20 hours a week at Footlocker―all while graduating with a 4.3 GPA from Steele Canyon High School.

“My parents told me anything I wanted I had to pay for myself to learn responsibility,” said Harrison, who often can be found on group outings to Lake Murray and the as a youth leader for Christian Youth United for the Advancement of the Gospel.

“At 16, I got a job,” he said. “My first check was $54 and I really did appreciate it.”

Harrison, who comes from a family of pastors, says earning good grades while working was “definitely a struggle” because he also was  vice president of his senior class and the ASB’s finance commissioner.

But it was a choice. And he purposely decided to go the scholastic route instead of pursuing his talent with basketball.

“It’s actually been kind of interesting going to college,” said Harrison, who’s double majoring at San Diego State University and helped start a youth ministry there. “People always ask me what sport I’m in, and I can say I got in through grades.”