Students at Foley High School had the chance to attend a unique assembly last week. The assembly was designed to be fun but it also aimed to drive home some important life lessons at the same time.

Former Foley High student Jeremy Fields returned with his group called Frontline Ministries to put on the assembly that included Christian rappers Kryst Like and Alreddy Reddy.

Many students opted to leave the bleachers and interact with the rappers like a real concert, dancing and singing along.

Fields said this assembly was unlike others because while the subject matter was serious, the message was delivered in a way that was relevant to teenagers.

The assembly was set up to share stories and inspiration instead of telling students what they should and should not do.

Like and Reddy rapped tunes like “Clap it up for Jesus,” “Amp it up for Jesus,” and lyrics like “He gives us grace and mercy, grace, grace and mercy…We give him praise and worship, praise praise and worship,” and “Jesus got me amped up!”

After the musicians were able to get the student’s undivided attention, the assembly took on a more somber note as members of Frontline Ministries shared testimonials of their own lives.

“I am a real person with a real story,” Fields said.

Despite the religious theme present in the songs for the assembly, Fields said he did not intend to force religion on anyone. “We are not here to shove Jesus or religion down your throat. The one thing we are here to do is tell you our stories. How we were lost, depressed, out there and I made that decision to rise up, and each one of you has a voice,” said Fields.

Fields also said the situations discussed at the assembly could quite possibly be impacting “you, or someone sitting right next to you.”

A main focus of the assembly asked the question, “What influences you?” For speakers Rachel, Ben and Johnny, drugs, alcohol and abusive relationships negatively influenced their early lives, but with the help of others they were able to overcome their obstacles and become successful survivors.    

Speakers shared stories from their past that included abuse, suicide attempts, trying to fit in, drug addictions and self-mutiliation.

Rachel was abused as a child. She told the students gathered, “I am here to tell you that you are worth something. No one ever told me that. You are precious, you are like diamonds, you are like rubies, and you are like sapphires.”

Fields said he felt this assembly was important for the students because of his experiences. He wished that he had been exposed to something like this as a high school student.

“I don’t want some of you guys to go down the same road that I went down, and some of my friends went down. Here is the reality. I went around chasing this American dream. MTV was filling my mind with lies. TV and Hollywood were filling my mind with lies.” Fields said.

He knows what it is like to be a teenager and feel like everyone is against you. He said when he was a student here he thought that all of the teachers were against him and that they didn’t care about him. Looking back, he said he realized that he was wrong, telling all the students gathered at the assembly “most of the teachers along the back wall care about you. They are here to help you. They want to help you. They are here so you can succeed.”

He also said he knows he is one of the lucky ones because he still has his freedom, unlike many of his friends he has to converse with through letters to prison, or his friends that have died at a young age due to bad choices.

“I was supposed to graduate in 2001. Since then I have got six friends from here that are dead for making bad choices. I have got friends right now that I am writing letters to that are in prison,” Fields said.

Most Foley High students had the opportunity to attend this assembly that lasted for more than an hour.