Missouri First Lady Teresa Parson visited Monday afternoon with Neelyville R-IV students who are part of Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program.
Parson shared a story about a shy young man named Sam whose involvement in the JAG program helped him develop into someone who could speak to a thousand people at the national level. She described Sam’s development as “unbelievable. JAG had given him a clear idea of what he could do. Today, Sam is working in the medical field.”
As a member of JAG, Sam learned his present lifestyle did not have to determine his life, Parson said. He told others, he learned his life “is up to me.”
The two years Sam was in JAG, he set himself on the right course.
“Your future will be in your own hands,” said Parson as she reminded the students from both Neelyville middle and senior high schools if they put in the hard work and took advantage of the opportunities, their ”mountain tops will outweigh the valleys.”
Parson told the students she knows they have a lot of opportunities because “I follow your Facebook page.”
Comparing JAG to a family, Parson explained, you bond with the JAG members who are on the front line to help you.
Neelyville JAG President Lora Ainley admitted she had been shy when started the program, but the sponsor doesn’t let you be quiet. Admitting the program really helped her open up, Ainley said it impacts a lot of peoples’ lives. JAG is a way of helping young people decide on the way they are heading, Parson said. Not every career requires a college degree and she encouraged the students to decide on what career path they wanted to follow.
The students asked if she was not Missouri’s First Lady, what would she be doing?
She smilingly replied, “I have grandchildren your age. I had planned to be retired, at home and doing things with them.”
As Missouri’s First Lady, “I get to the meet young people like you. I enjoy everyday trying to help the next generation of Missourians. It is an honor and pleasure to be the first lady of the state.”
Parson’s staff handed each of the students a JAG Challenge Coin as she dared the students to dream, prepare, be persistant and succeed.
She will also visit Van Buren and Poplar Bluff schools this week.
JAG is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting young people of great promise. JAG is delivering the best results in its 40-year history while serving youth who face significant challenges, to help them reach economic and academic success.