Choices Matter: A Life Changing Program

 Last week, JCHS students had the opportunity to learn perseverance and the consequences of "choices" when guest speaker Fletcher Cleaves visited. Mr. Cleaves spoke with the students as part of the "Choices Matter" program. Collaborating with highway safety offices nationwide, Choices Matter is a transformative program for high school students. It utilizes personal stories and engaging materials to motivate students to make positive choices both behind the wheel and in life. 
The mission of Choices Matter is to educate students and young adults about life-changing decisions, specifically highway safety decisions, that they may face in the future. 
According to his online bio, Fletcher Cleaves was involved in a tragic car crash that left him paralyzed from the chest down due to a driver suspected of texting while behind the wheel. This traumatic incident caused him to lose his football scholarship but with faith, perseverance, and a year of intense physical therapy, he re-enrolled in school and graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in Computer Science. Now as a professional motivational speaker, Fletcher has shared his testimony of overcoming adversity, safe driving, the importance of education, and faith-based living with ESPN, College Game-Day, and over 700 high schools, colleges, and businesses. Fletcher is also a world traveler obtaining the nickname "The Wheelchair Nomad". He travels to many countries living life to the fullest while also bringing awareness to accessibility issues in the travel industry. To many, his crash seemed like the end of a young man's promising future, but on the contrary, it became the prologue to his destiny. 
JCHS Principal Brian Harris reported, "One of the best guest speakers we have ever had at JCHS! I hope our students enjoyed his message and determination."