“The Choice Bus” Shows Students the Value of Finishing Their Education

Most young people have been told how important it is to get an education.

But many of them haven’t seen with they own eyes what’s likely to happen to them if they drop out.

The “Choice Bus” is in Chattanooga this week, and it lays out the options plain and simple.

This is the Choice Bus that visited Orchard Knob Middle and CGLA.

Part of it shows a positive life for young people–and the other side gives kids a close look at a jail bunk.

CHET PENNOCK, LEAD PRESENTER, “THE CHOICE BUS”  ” Eight out of ten people in prisons…75%, did not graduate from high school..and if they don’t graduate, and it doesn’t matter why, they are 8 times more likely to end up in prison than people that finish.”

The Choice Bus was created by The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation devoted to helping reduce the dropout rate in the United States.

The options shown in videos on the bus are obvious. They are designed to persuade young people to make up their minds now to stay away from people who would pull them down.

JAYLA BALL, CGLA SENIOR  “After watching these videos I know that I should make sure ..make sure who I hang around with ..a positive crowd, make sure I hang around people ..people who are going to influence me…help me with my dreams and pursue my career. “

BRESHAYLA LOYD, CGLA SENIOR  “I learned that everybody has a plan, and that everybody has a choice. And that no matter what you’re doing ..or where you are …you should know where your surrounding is and know who you’re around.”

The “Bus” also also tells it straight, getting high school right, is just the beginning.

CHET PENNOCK  “There’s really going to be another step after high school that’s going to give them opportunity. It may not need to be college …everyone doesn’t need that but they all need to get some more education or training ..Cause they are all going need a skill.”

The Choice Bus works–since 2008 it has visited 2-million students in 21 states.

CHET PENNOCK “Life can be hard, and the problem is, they won’t realize that its going to be hard until it gets hard.”

The Choice Bus is sponsored in this part of the country by State Farm Insurance.