PicoBlog

What does it mean to call Mississippi home? Why do people choose to leave or live in this weird, wonderful, and sometimes infuriating place? Today we hear from Jordan Bush, a strength and conditioning coach who maintains his Mississippi ties despite now living in Austin, Texas.

Where are you from?

I am from Jackson, MS. Born and Raised. Right from the north side of Jackson. 

When did you move to Austin and why did you move there?

I moved to Austin, May 8th, 2022. I moved from Miami where I lived and worked for two years. I moved here for my job as a coach. I am a Human Performance Movement Specialist, which is a fancy name for a strength and conditioning coach. I train pro athletes from many different sports during the in-season and off-season. Moving to Austin was a great move for my career. 

What does “home” mean to you? How does Mississippi fit into that definition?

Home is truly where the heart is. Mississippi has always and always will be home. It’s nothing like coming home and seeing the places I grew up, visiting family and friends, getting great food, etc. It's truly a breath of fresh air from all the hustle and bustle of the big cities I’ve lived in. My family is there, my roots are there, and my heart will always be there. No matter where life takes me, Mississippi will always be my forever home. 

What do you miss most about Mississippi?

Of course I miss my family and friends the most, but the food is a close second. I’ve lived in multiple places but Mississippi food is top tier. So many great hole in the wall spots, gas stations, and mom and pop shops that serve the BEST food in the world. From fried catfish to BBQ, to everything in between, I will put Mississippi food against anyone. You haven't had TRUE soul food until you’ve gotten it in Mississippi. 

You haven't had TRUE soul food until you’ve gotten it in Mississippi. 

How have you cultivated community in Austin? Do you still feel rooted to Mississippi?

Creating a community in Austin has been pretty difficult. Being the capital of Texas and a big college town, Austin is a pretty big city. I’ve learned a lot of people move here for opportunities and networking. Especially in the tech and real estate industry. It's just difficult sometimes to tell if people are genuine and only talking to you because of what you can do for them. I do still feel rooted in Mississippi because that’s where most of my lifelong friends still live and I go visit as often as possible. 

What’s the weirdest question or assumption you’ve encountered about Mississippi (or about you as a Mississippian) by someone who’s never been there?

My former coworker of mine asked me if Mississippi has “sun down towns.” I asked her what it was in confusion and she said they’re places where Black people can't be outside after the sun goes down. I was not only insulted but also was so annoyed by the ignorance of people who aren’t from Mississippi. It’s no secret back in the day Mississippi was extremely racist. I’m not blind to that but I also understand we’ve come a very long way. My grandparents have seen the times change and lived through many generations. I'm glad they're alive to see how much the state has changed since the 1930s and 1940s. 

How has being from Mississippi affected your identity and your life’s path?

Mississippi is who I am. I literally have the state outline tattooed on the inside of my right arm. It’s a constant reminder of where I come from and the people who have helped me get to where I am today. I wear the state proudly everywhere I go as a badge of honor. Jackson, specifically, will forever be home. I don’t care where I go in life or how far I may move away. There is no place like “the 601.”  I think being from Mississippi will always keep a chip on my shoulder. We’re so often overlooked and considered last in everything, I just want to change the narrative and the outlook people have on us. I have always had the “underdog” mentality and I have always had to prove myself, which I embrace daily.

Mississippi is who I am. I literally have the state outline tattooed on the inside of my right arm. It’s a constant reminder of where I come from and the people who have helped me get to where I am today.

What is something that you’ve come to understand about Mississippi by living elsewhere? 

Living outside of Mississippi I’ve come to understand that true southern hospitality is not everywhere. Small gestures such as holding the door open or addressing your elders as “ma’am” or “sir” are foreign in some places. I’ve always grown up around people who take these things seriously. That's just how my parents raised me. As Mississippians that’s who we are. We treat our elders with respect and say please and thank you.

Have you ever thought about moving back? What would need to happen in order for you to move back to Mississippi?

I get asked this question a lot. I’m not sure if I could move back anytime soon. Living outside the state has opened my eyes to see many things I could’ve never imagined. Different cultures, different people, etc. I’d much rather be able to bring my experiences back from other places to share with others than move back right now. Mississippi is just so far behind in resources and exposure. I definitely plan on buying a house or some land one day in the state and spending my retirement years there. 

I’m not sure if I could move back anytime soon. Living outside the state has opened my eyes to see many things I could’ve never imagined.

What do you wish the rest of the country understood about Mississippi?

I wish the rest of the country understood that all Mississippians aren’t lazy or uneducated. We all just don’t sit outside on our porches and eat fried foods all day and not go to school. There are some really creative, talented and smart people in this state. From doctors, artists, athletes, musicians, we have it all. I think because we aren’t a “big city” people just have the stereotype in their mind that Mississippi is all country and dirt roads, which it isn't. We are a state full of people who have learned to adapt to our situations and adapt to our culture. Could things be better? Of course. But they also could be worse. 

Do you have a favorite Mississippi writer, artist, or musician who you think everyone needs to know about?

Definitely BIG K.R.I.T. and Akeem Ali (who’s actually from Jackson). They both have made it big in the mainstream music industry and do a great job of giving Mississippi a shoutout every time they can in interviews, freestyles, etc. Their music is the definition of southern rap and I’m proud they are from Mississippi and represent it well. 

If you had one billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, how would you spend your money?

The first thing I would do would be for sure to invest into Jackson Public Schools. I went to school in the Jackson Public School District from elementary to high school. I went to Casey Elementary from 1st-3rd grade; for my 4th and 5th grade years I transferred to Power APAC. I attended Chastain Middle School after that, and for high school I attended The Murrah High School (the only place to be), so I'm truly a product. I know the district needs funding for better resources to compete with other school districts across the state, so that would be my first investment. I want the kids to be able to thrive in a safe learning environment. They are the next generation and I would want to equip them with as many things as possible for their success. Next, I would help fix the streets and the water crisis in Jackson. I’d fix every pothole, big or small and I’d do everything I can to make sure Jacksonians always have clean running water. 

What or who do you want to shamelessly promote? (It can absolutely be a project you’re working on, or something you are involved in.)

I would like to promote myself as a performance specialist. I post a lot of my training clips and a glimpse of what I do daily on my Twitter and Instagram.  I coach professional athletes among multiple sports including the NFL, MLB, NBA and USATF. I've been all over the world and trained many high profile athletes but I got my start right at home in Mississippi working with the Jackson-Metro area youth. 

Jordan was born in Jackson, MS on October 24, 1994 to Ivy and James Bush. He has one older brother, Trey. As kids, they played multiple sports, including karate, football, and baseball. They were also Boy Scouts and were very active in church. After graduating from Murrah High School, Jordan attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he majored in kinesiology with an emphasis in human performance. While there, he decided he wanted to work with athletes and become a strength and conditioning coach. After graduation, Jordan accepted a job at D1 Sports in Madison, MS where he then got his first job as a head baseball coach at Northwest Rankin High School. After two successful years, he moved to Bradenton, FL to work at IMG Academy as an assistant coach for the 2020 NFL Combine training class. After a year in Bradenton, Jordan moved to south Florida to coach at the House of Athlete for the same role. After two successful years there, he moved to Austin, TX to work at the Kollective, where he currently serves as the assistant director of pro sports. Although he have moved around and made many connections along the way, no place compares to Jackson, MS. Despite being many miles away, Jordan’s heart will forever be in Mississippi. 

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