Former NFL Stars Steer Kids Straight

This can be a troubling world for teenagers today, and schools are doing all they can in order to help out their students with all of the issues that may be bothering them. These issues include things like bullying, drugs, alcohol and gang violence. To help out the students at Howell High School, a fascinating presentation was given on Tuesday morning by a group known as Steered Straight.

Steered Straight is made up of four individuals, including a former gang member and prisoner, a man who had his life steered straight on his first day of school, and two former stars of the National Football League. 

The first person to speak during this presentation was the founder of the Steered Straight, Mike De Leon. Mr. De Leon kicked off the assembly noting that he was just like the students of Howell, growing up in the suburbs and thinking that nothing bad would ever happen to them.

“I grew up with a disease called ‘Can’t Happen to Me-ism,’” he said with a laugh. However, he warned the students that bad things could happen if people make the wrong choices.

De Leon said he was on a straight path for a while as a juvenile, but then he turned into an addict, using alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Soon he became entwined within a gang, dealing with money from drugs that were sold from the gang members.

He then told a story about how there was one instance where he was a bystander during a gang murder, and due to his involvement, he spent ten years in federal prison.

“Crime is not a game you can win,” he said. He then went on to say how recently he was pulled over for rolling through a red light, and even though he had not committed any crimes since and has become a speaker against gangs, there were still many cops surrounding him for this traffic violation due to his criminal history.

“It won’t matter who you are, just what you were,” he said.

De Leon then spoke of a very important subject to students today, that being the topic of bullying. He said an unfortunate amount of the students getting bullied have committed suicide, and this is something that needs to stop immediately. 

“No longer will the principal deal with those who are bullying others. Now this type of thing will go to the cops,” he said. 

He concluded by saying if students are bullied, they always have avenues to turn to in order to talk to someone.

“Teachers are the real life Google,” he said. “They know everything, and if they don’t, then they know someone who will know the answers to your problems.”

Following Mr. De Leon was John Fuqua, an ant-gang facilitator. Mr. Fuqua said he also went to a school similar to Howell High School, and on his first day, he took a swig of cognac before class started. His vice-principal quickly grabbed him, spoke to him about his choices, and Mr. Fuqua said he stayed “in his lane,” since.

He then told the students that they should all try to get into extra-curricular activities at school, since most problems occur when they are just “chillin’” after school.

“Chillin’ is not an extra-curricular activity!” Mr. Fuqua said. “I ain’t seen no chillin’ scholarship.”

Concluding the presentation were former NFL stars Thomas Tapeh and Hank Poteat. Tapeh played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings from 2004 to 2008, and Poteat played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns from 2000 to 2009.

Tapeh said he was born in Liberia and did not know how to speak English when he first moved to America, leading to him getting bullied in schools. Plus he said his father had 30 children, and he has worked hard all his life in order to become as successful as he has today.

Poteat was next to speak, noting that he has also had numerous setbacks, with many injuries and getting cut from numerous teams as well. However, he said he too has worked hard and managed to succeed, all while winning a championship ring with the New England Patriots.

“I’ve set and reached the goals for myself, and as long as all of you work hard, you will achieve your dreams,” he said.

At the conclusion of the event, all four speakers were given a round of applause by the ninth and tenth grade classes in attendance for the celebrities, and numerous students ran up to the former NFL stars to get autographs as mementos from the special day.