Video: Amory Students get a Glimpse of the Future on the “Choice Bus”

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AMORY, Miss. (WCBI) – Middle school students in one Northeast Mississippi city are learning the value of making good decisions early in life. As WCBI’s Allie Martin tells us, it’s part of a program by an Alabama-based foundation that travels the nation in a modified school bus with a strong message.

These eighth graders at Amory Middle School are taking their seats on “The Choice Bus” where they will learn valuable life lessons.

“Good morning”

The messages are clear…staying in school makes a difference for a lifetime. For instance, a high school graduate earns an average income of 27 thousand dollars, about twice what a drop out makes. And over their lifetimes, a college graduate will make an average of one million more dollars more than a high school dropout.

The video also has brief with prison inmates who share one thing in common, their decision to drop out of high school.

“You can’t overestimate the power of education.”

After the video, students get a glimpse at the other part of the converted bus.

“This is a reproduction of a prison cell.”

The students learn that 75 percent of the nation’s prison population did not finish high school.

“When a child reaches the sixth grade, they’re starting to have to make decisions on their own. Statistically, it does show that that’s when they start making decisions to drop out, and by the time they get to ninth grade, they can start acting on that. What we want to do is get in and help them understand that there is a better way.”

Representatives from the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation say if they can reach one student, they’ve made a difference.

Students we spoke with say the message had an impact.

“I think it causes them to be more aware of what will happen after they graduate.”

“It is hard to get a job if you dropped out.”

Students signed a banner pledging to stay in school and make positive choices. That banner will be on display at the school throughout the year. In Amory I’m Allie Martin WCBI News.

The Choice Bus will be at Amory High School Friday.