Who is Jordan Tarver? Well, I’m glad you asked. My story is intricate, and I’ve experienced my fair share of ups and downs, just like everyone else. Today, I’m going to save you some time, and instead of diving into everything about my journey, I’m going to toss up 11 random facts you (probably) didn’t know about me. Take them for what you want, but I believe this is a perfect way to catch a glimpse of who I am before reading my full story, which I wrote about in my book, Moment, Vol I: To Whom It May Concern.
Let’s get this show on the road.
1. I grew up in Sonoma County
I’m originally from Rohnert Park, a small town in Sonoma County. It’s notoriously hard to pronounce and find on the map for people unfamiliar with the area. I always tell people, “It’s about an hour north of San Francisco.” Rohnert Park is the “friendly city,” there’s even a sign that lets you know. Growing up there, I didn’t fully appreciate all of its glory; however, once I left for college (more on that soon), I started to really appreciate the charm and uniqueness of the place I will forever refer to as “home.”
2. Camping was a way of our world
It was common to hear “camping” and “the Tarvers” in the same sentence growing up. Camping was our family’s mini getaway. My parents would take us to Samuel P. Taylor State Park every summer where we’d play in fallen pine needles, scuff up our knees while racing on bikes, and purposely melt the soles of our shoes because it was “cool” (my parents thought otherwise). My love for camping started at a very young age, which is why it’s a hobby I will never let go of.
3. I lived and breathed San Francisco Giants baseball
Growing up in the Bay Area with parents who had been there their entire life, it was almost impossible to not root for the San Francisco Giants. Luckily, my dad had season tickets through work so we’d go to a healthy handful of games every year. I was the kid who saved every ticket, and I still have them to this day. We were fortunate enough to be living in the Barry Bonds era. The games were electric. Not only that, but we saw him break both Babe Ruth’s (715) and Hank Aaron’s (755) home run record in person. I have the chills; it’s a moment I will never forget or take for granted.
4. Baseball was my jam
I played baseball my entire life, up until my junior year of high school. From little league to all-stars to travel ball, I did it all. I couldn’t live without the sport. Now that I’m older, and when I look back on that time of my life, I realize how many valuable lessons I learned without even knowing it. How to be a leader. How to be a teammate. How to be a good sport and competitor. How to hold your head high even when you fail. It all added up, and I’m seeing the results now.
5. I eventually quit baseball to play tennis
I didn’t make the varsity baseball team in my junior year of high school, and I didn’t want to play junior varsity again. With no intention to play in college or make it pro, I decided to jump ships and join the tennis team. I never played tennis competitively before, but had a gut feeling I’d be good, and I was. I quickly learned the ins and outs of the game, and soon enough was the #1 singles tennis player at the school. This is a decision I will never regret.
6. Southern California always called my name
In 2006, my brother left for college and attended San Diego State Unversity. I went down with my mom to move him in and immediately fell in love with SoCal. Ever since that day, I knew I wanted to move there. Fast forward six years and I was choosing between colleges: Chico, UC Santa Cruz, and Cal State Fullerton (CSUF). I was moments away from choosing Chico when my mom said we needed to visit CSUF because I always told her I wanted to live in SoCal. So we went, and the second I set foot on campus, I turned to my mom and said, “This is the one.” Thank you, mom. That changed the course of my life forever and the better.
7. I joined a fraternity and lived in the house for two years
Both my older brothers joined fraternities in college, so it was something I was looking forward to doing myself. I joined Phi Kappa Tau the first semester of my freshman year at CSUF and moved into the fraternity house in my sophomore year. This was no regular fraternity house, it was The Barn. Google “The Barn CSUF”, trust me.
8. After graduating from college, I quit my job and flew to Europe
Did I get a degree in finance? Absolutely. Did I want to avoid jumping right into the workforce after college at all costs? 100%. So what did I do? Quit my job, moved out of my house, packed a bag, and flew to Europe for a solo backpacking trip across Europe.
9. My Europe trip completely changed my life
While I sometimes cringe when I tell people I found myself on my solo trip, it’s completely true. There was the old me before my trip and the new me after. It put me on a fast track to understanding my soul on a deeper level, which eventually led me to becoming the best version of myself. Now I don’t think this is the only way to discover yourself; however, I do think the best way to do so is by exiting your comfort zone often.
10. I choose to live a life driven by positivity
Positivity is my bible. Without it, I don’t know where I would be. It has allowed me to see the silver lining in most situations, has flooded my life with optimism and happiness, and surrounded me with like-minded people. I challenge you to explore positivity as I have. Its benefits are endless.
11. I picked up my belongings and moved to Washington state
poradic, life-changing decisions are not uncommon in my life. I live a life full of curiosity and don’t have any plans to put a cap to that. In 2020, my girlfriend, Nicolle, and I picked up all our belongings and moved from Los Angeles to Seattle. Not to mention, the only time I had been to Washington before this was to visit the condo which we now call home.
Bottom Line
This is just a glimpse at what makes up myself. My story is an intricate and interesting one, and if you’re curious, I encourage you to read it in its entirety. But if you’re not interested, don’t sweat it. I’m grateful I could get your eyes on this quick piece about who I am.
