NFL player and Seaside native helps motivate alternate education students

An NFL player from Seaside is helping motivate at-risk youth on the Central Coast.

Terry Poole of the Seattle Seahawks was the keynote speaker for the Monterey County Office of Education Alternative Programs Commencement Ceremony Thursday in Salinas.

“Even if you get in trouble and you have problems or struggles in your life as a young person, you know you can always make it out and conquer your dreams,” said Poole.

It wasn’t long ago that Poole graduated from the same alternative education program. He said as a teen he got into trouble and stopped going to class.

“When I was a young child I didn’t take schools seriously,” said Poole. “I didn’t know what to do in life.”

But alternative education helped him focus and now he’s playing for the pros. He hopes his story will help the nearly 100 at-risk youth graduating.

“I’m nervous. But I guess the butterflies in my stomach are a good sign. I will finally get to accomplish something that most of my family has never been through,” said graduating senior Isaac Reyes.

Reyes said after the death of his grandfather he became depressed and stopped going to school. But like Poole, it was the program that got him back into class.

“For now, Hartnell College. We’ll see where life takes me from there,” said Reyes.

County leaders said this year they had the highest graduation rate in years, with 81 percent of the students getting their high school diploma.

“They have really achieved a high level of success due to their persistence and resilience and continuing to do something many of them did not think they could do,” said program director Chandalee Wood.

And Poole said that’s why he’s here, to them they can.

“I turned in around by changing my mindset. I wanted to achieve and make my dreams and just want to preach that to them that they have the chance if they put their mind to it,” said Poole.