 
Staying on track
Dec. 5, 2008 · Video Burnt orange mixed with blue and gold as four Longhorn football players recently visited Paredes Middle School to speak about the importance of studying, time management and respect. Seniors Cedric Dockery, Ryan Palmer and Henry Melton, along with junior Ben Alexander, addressed the nearly 1,000 students of the AISD school during their bye week, passing on their knowledge and experience about academics and life in general. Students packed the Paredes gym for a pep rally, where the school band played The Eyes of Texas and cheerleaders conducted chants for their Longhorn guests. The rally was also in celebration of the school's football team, who recently won their first District Championship after an undefeated season. "It's an honor for me," Palmer said of the opportunity to speak to the youngsters. "It's very special to see kids, the excitement on their face when we come out here. I remember there was a time when I was in their shoes, so I know how it is to be a young person. I'm just honored to come out here and spend my time with them." Although the players' visit was unique, UT students trekking to the Paredes campus is nothing new. Last year, Dockery participated in the dropout prevention program that involves tutors from UT's department of education going to the school to help kids with academic difficulties.
"I can remember in September going into a class, passing out flyers and trying to recruit tutors to come here," said Dan Sifuentes, a Paredes staff member and coordinator of the dropout prevention program. "Lo and behold, Mr. Dockery walks into the classroom. It was just wonderful. He looked at his teammates and said, `Y'all have to go to Paredes Middle School, y'all have to work with Mr. Sifuentes.'" The pep rally was a reward for the Paredes students' recent academic success, including improvement in attendance records and test scores. The message from the Texas players was one of encouragement to continue improving and succeed in the future. "I told them that it's not easy for us and it's not going to be easy for you," Dockery said. "But if you pay attention to your tutors and mentors, you'll do okay and everything will be fine." For Palmer, his reputation as a Texas football player is something to be recognized. "We're big figures around here," he said. "We just have to be respectful, stay out of trouble and do things right." The excitement among the Paredes students was palpable, not only during the players' visit but throughout the preceding days as well. "Now I know what it feels like the week before the Texas-Oklahoma game, because there was an absolute buzz here," Sifuentes said. "They were busy making posters, they were on their best behavior, and it was attributed to these four gentlemen taking time out of their busy schedules to come to Paredes Middle School and encourage these kids to succeed academically." After their message, the players passed on a gift from the Longhorn football team - a football signed by UT head coach Mack Brown. The souvenir will be a reminder of the academic success that Paredes students are capable of. "It's a symbol of academic achievement," Sifuentes said of the memento. "It means that everybody has a piece of this, everybody contributed to it. We're going to display it in the front office, so the kids can show it off, the parents can see it, and it can create more of a buzz about academics for years to come." |
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