Rebecca Swann did not take the traditional route to Cherokee Estate, for a few reasons.
She was 15 years old when problems began to arise in her home in Macon due to her mother being in an abusive relationship. She knew something had to change. “I told her I just couldn’t remain in that environment because I knew he was just going to be worse to her and I could get hurt,” she said. “It was just a bad situation. When I put it to my mom that way, she chose him over me.”
Swann found herself without a home and went to live with her uncle in Dalton. He helped her a great deal, teaching her some important life skills. “He had two young children at the time and there was a lot on his plate, but he tried to help me as I started my senior year,” she said. “He tried to teach me how to drive and balance a checkbook. He did his best, but after so many months of living there it was apparent that living there long term was not going to be a great option.”
Swann’s uncle spoke to a man at his church who told him about Cherokee Estate. Unsure about whether it was even possible because of her age, she went with him to meet the director at the time, as well as current director Nikita Jordan, who was the house parent.
They learned that girls Swann’s age typically aren’t admitted as first-time residents and she would be a private placement. The most common method of placement is as a referral by the Department of Family and Children’s Services.
“Nikita was my house parent and I lived at the independent living cottage for about 3-1/2 years,” she said. “I finished high school while I was living there and started college at Cleveland State [in Cleveland, Tennessee].
That was the start of an educational journey that has led to a master’s degree and hopes for law school in the near future. As is often the case, the assistance she received from Cherokee Estate did not end when she went off to college.
She drove to Cleveland State in a car that had been provided for her by the Youth Homes. When she decided to go back to her hometown and continue her studies in Macon, the car was given to her outright.
“That was huge,” she said. “Not only did they pay for college while I was living on campus at Cleveland State, but when I moved to Macon they helped me find an apartment that was right across from campus. They helped me pay for that apartment and for my tuition and books. They subsidized my living expenses as long as I was in school and was succesful there.”
With that kind of support, Swann earned an associate’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in public service at Macon State College (now middle Georgia State University). That was followed nearly a decade later by a master’s degree in criminal justice from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.
Now her top priority is her two children. She is getting her 18-year-old daughter ready to start college while also rearing an 11-year-old son. She has worked in the claims department at GEICO for more than five years. Law school is still on the horizon but a few years away.
“Without Cherokee Estate, I’m not sure I ever would have gone to college, and I’m absolutely certain I would have not finished college and gone on to do my master’s without their continued support,” she said.
Now 40, Swann is two decades removed from Cherokee Estate, but it remains close to her heart. Every February she sends a flower arrangement to Nikita Jordan in celebration of her birthday.
“Nikita taught me how to dress for my body type and what to expect out of a boyfriend or on a date,” said Swann. “I was sent to tutoring for help in subjects that were difficult for me. Nikita has followed me all these years. She still sends me birthday cards and follows up with me. She follows up on my children. This is a lifelong relationship that was formed at Cherokee Estate, and it’s all because they took a chance on me.”
“They become the mother you always needed, the father you always wanted,” she continued. “Cherokee Estate took me in at an age they don’t typically admit, and they took me in without any support. They taught me everything. It’s amazing how flexible they are when it comes to meeting the needs of young people. They gave me a home and taught me so much,” she said. “There are no words in the English language to describe the kind of support I got from Cherokee Estate.”