RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. — In 2024, WFMY News 2 turns 75! It's our diamond anniversary! As we celebrate our diamond year, we want to take time to highlight diamonds in our community. We know there are people all over the Triad who make their communities shine! WFMY News 2 asked members of the public to nominate their diamonds and we received several worthy entries. But this month, the one that stood out was 18-year-old Jordana Randlett.
THE NOMINATION
She's an 18-year-old martial arts instructor who teaches free self-defense to women and churches and other organizations. She dresses up as children's characters and volunteers locally at nursing homes and children's events. She works very hard to educate the community on how to be safe. She is constantly doing for others. She's visiting a hundred martial arts studios just so she can be the best martial arts instructor and student that she possibly can be. She is hardworking, considerate, upstanding and is always thinking of others.
ABOUT JORDANA RANDLETT
Randlett said it all started when her mom put her in martial arts class to help her have a hobby while her stepfather was losing his battle with cancer. Her mother said she never would have thought it would have grown into Jordana's passion. Randlett said, "The movement, the contact, the joint locks, all of it was awesome to me. It made me feel strong and it made me feel super excited that I learned how to do something new." Randlett said she really dove into it when her stepdad passed away. She said the things she learned helped her tremendously then, and continue to help her now. Randlett says when she was about 13, she started teaching children's classes. Years later, after facing some challenges with her gender, she said she realized she wanted to teach women how to defend themselves. She said she applied what she learned teaching kids and then moved it to teaching adults and helping out with teaching women for free. "Whether or not they ever step into a martial arts studio doesn't really matter to me. It's not my main priority, it's about helping them to find their voice and know that they can stand up and fight for themselves," Randlett said. For Randlett, the classes are all about the long-term impact. "I hope to touch as many lives as I can through martial arts and hopefully help others to find the right style for them. [...] I have seen amazing souls grow and they have learned to be empowered and strong." When it comes to teaching different ages, she says everyone can take something away from the classes. "Every person is a good student. Its the way you teach them that matters. If you truly show them that you want them to do good, to do better, you're not just here to push them through and make them do push ups and kicks, you're here to help them grow as people, mentally and physically."
Randlett also says there are things she gets out teaching classes. "You meet amazing people. You get to learn those around you and learn how their lives work. I think connections with anybody is good. We're meant to be around people, we're meant to bond with people and I think its just one of those many ways that you can," she said.
Randlett is the youngest person to receive WFMY News 2's Community Diamond (so far). Randlett said, "That makes me feel very good about what I'm doing. I feel like I'm definitely on the right track here."
If you're interested in scheduling Randlett for a class or character appearance you can reach her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or Youtube.
For winning the August Community Diamond, Randlett received:
-$100 gift certificate from Windsor Jewelers
-$75 Visa gift card
-Community Diamond recognition certificate
Other diamond goodies!
NOMINATE A DIAMOND
You can nominate people in your community as a Community Diamond! Fill out the nomination form below and tell us about people who are making a difference in your community! WFMY News 2 will choose one winner a month to spotlight in an on air story. The monthly winner will also receive a gift certificate to Windsor Jewelers and a Visa Gift Card so they can reward themselves or continue doing good in their community.
At the end of the year, each of the monthly winners will be entered into a grand prize drawing for a larger item from Windsor Jewelers.