NATCHEZ — Natchez High School ninth grader Ashley Haney thought seriously about dropping out of school until approximately a month ago, she said.

Haney, who said she is supposed to be 11th grade at her age, didn’t like getting up in the mornings and sort of decided this year would be her last year to go to school.

But exposure to the real world Haney received from a course she is taking through the Jobs for Mississippi Graduates program swiftly reminded her about the importance of her education.

“I’m not going to say (the course taught) me life is tough, but it shows how (life) is not all laughs…it’s serious stuff,” Haney said.

Haney said learning about interviews, different kinds of jobs and the local economy motivated her to finish out her schooling and to become prepared to enter the workforce.

“It teaches you about the real world,” Haney said.

Linda Bowers, the JMB specialist, said the course targets students who face barriers that might make them more susceptible to dropping out of school.

Now in its sixth year at Natchez High, JMB has 32 students enrolled this year compared to just six in the program’s first year.

The course focuses on practical skills, economics, exposure to local job markets and even manners, Bowers said.

Students in the JMB class got a dose of the real world Wednesday when they sat face-to-face with Stine Lumber manager Michael Sharp for a mock job interview.

While interviewing one student with the rest of her class watching, Sharp cocked his head eye level to her lowered gaze as a reminder of his earlier advice.

“Remember to keep eye contact,” Sharp said.

The students listened as Sharp told them interviewers do not expect job candidates to have an answer to every question.

“No one’s an expert,” Sharp warned.

The interview actually lets employers gauge if a person seems honest and trustworthy, Sharp said.

The students listened as Sharp told him a referral is the No. 1 factor he considers when hiring someone. He also explained the importance of networking.

Bowers said there are 84 barriers that can make a student susceptible to dropping out of school, including having children, having parents who are incarcerated, being homeless and making poor gradxes.

JMB targets those students to prepare them to enter society, get a job and to become successful, Bowers said.

What makes the program work best is cooperation from the community, Bowers said, for example when guest speakers like Sharp share their real world knowledge with the students.

“You only have one shot in life to make a good impression on anybody, so we try to focus on that,” Bowers said.

Angela Baker said the class has also taught her the importance of teamwork.

“It motivates you,” she said of the program.

Jatarrius Franklin said the course also teaches him how to set goals and make plans to reach them, with graduation certainly being at the top of the list.

“I want to walk on stage in my gown (at graduation),” Franklin said. “This class is pushing (the students) to help us get there.”