NATCHEZ &8212; Members of the first Natchez High School Career Association were challenged Tuesday to believe in themselves and to set goals and follow them.

Joe A. Haynes, executive director of Jobs for Mississippi Graduates, the sponsoring agency for the career program, said every student in Mississippi should have the opportunity the 29 Natchez High students have in being a part of the program, the first of its kind offered in Natchez.

&8220;You are in a worthwhile organization that will teach you life skills,&8221; Haynes said. &8220;In this program you will learn the importance of education and staying in school.&8221;

Further, students will learn to work hard for what they want, he said. &8220;If you&8217;re going to get to the top, you have to pay the price of standing in line for the opportunity.&8221;

The Jobs for Mississippi Graduates program, established in 1990 for students in grades 9 through 12, is affiliated with Jobs for America&8217;s Graduates, a national nonprofit corporation begun in 1980 to help young people succeed in graduating from high school and making the transition to the workforce.

Linda Bowers is instructor for the Natchez High program. She said she was proud of the students&8217; commitment. &8220;This is a good group of kids, and I&8217;m proud of them,&8221; she said. &8220;I&8217;m ready to let them show everyone who they really are.&8221;

The Tuesday program, held in the school auditorium, included initiation and installation of the students into the program, installation of class officers and a candlelight ceremony that included presentation of certificates of membership.

Haynes outlined steps students must take &8220;to be a winner&8221;:

First, set a goal, he said. &8220;What do you want to do?&8221;

Next, he advised them to keep their priorities straight.

Third, &8220;Take responsibility for yourself. Don&8217;t blame others for your mistakes. Say, &8216;I made a mistake,&8217; and move on.&8221;

Finally, he told students to believe in themselves. &8220;If you don&8217;t think you can do it, you can&8217;t. But if you believe you can, you will.&8221;

Haynes said changing course sometimes is the best step to take. &8220;Review your results. If it&8217;s not working out, retool and start over again.&8221;

He urged students to have a plan and a timeline for carrying it out. &8220;Manage your time. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy.&8221;

Karen Tutor, director of curriculum and instruction for the Natchez-Adams County Public Schools, reminded Career Association students of their big responsibility.

&8220;This group is the charter group, and the success of this program lies on your shoulders.&8221;

Tutor said the Career Association fits the mission of the public schools to be sure that all students are prepared to continue their education or enter the workforce upon graduation.