GUEST SPEAKER — Former NBA player Wesley Fluellen, right, is welcomed by Director Vance Miller of the Jefferson County Educational Service Center Alternative School. Fluellen shared how he turned his life around and achieved success and he challenged the students to be their best selves. - Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Students at the Jefferson County Educational Service Center Alternative School heard an inspiring history from a champion who beat the odds in life and on the basketball court.

On Tuesday, former National Basketball Association player Wesley Fluellen, named an MVP in Europe and a championship title winner, shared the powerful true story of his life and a message that students can shape their futures with their choices. He visited through the Sports World program, which connects students with speakers and role models from the ranks of high-level athletes.

The school offers alternative placement for students for a variety of reasons including suspension, behavioral or other needs. The alternative school is open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade from all JCESC member districts.

Fluellen began with an allegory of a donkey trapped in a pit with dirt being shoveled onto it, but the donkey shook off the dirt that was burying it and used the pile to climb out.

“You may be mistreated or bullied or picked on,” he said. “Take your dirt, shake it off and step on it.”

He related the story to his own life growing up in East Cleveland and the hardships caused by his mother’s struggle with drug abuse, then his mistreatment by foster parents. He would eventually be placed with a caring foster family that fought for him, but Fluellen said he had internalized “negative programming,” or the wrong ways of thinking and acting. He had still carried anger, and an attitude that made him unwilling to work with people who tried to help him. Fluellen said he became involved with gangs and crime. However, his foster parents’ and his biological father’s efforts to connect with him helped him change.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you’ve been through, you get to choose. Every last one of you gets to choose.”

He found an outlet in basketball, where he excelled through talent and hard work. Staying in the game also motivated him to apply himself to academics and achieve.

“I had a gift inside me the whole time, just like you,” he said. “Your gift is waiting for you to choose, because there’s somebody who needs your gift.”

He urged students not to underestimate themselves.

“I witnessed violence,” he said. “Confusion and trauma, and I’m on the dean’s list at Robert Morris University from a choice. A decision to start following the right people, consistently making the right choices.”

He had encouraging words for teachers and told them their hard work and caring does make an impression on the students, even if the students might not show it at first.

Fluellen also spoke about suffering a heart attack on the court in Greece in 2013.

“I was dead for about 22-23 minutes. I’m in this ambulance,” he said, adding his survival gave him the opportunity to reach out to the students at the alternative school.

“Make the right choice. Just take a look at my life. If I can do it, of course you can.”

The students were enthusiastic following Fluellen’s presentation. Many had questions or chose to express themselves on “comment cards” or pledge to be drug or alcohol free.

Fluellen enjoyed speaking with the students.

“I definitely think I got through to the kids. There were several kids especially who were very locked in and engaged,” he said afterward.

He said openness and transparency in his testimony was the best way to connect with the students.

“It has to be that way, because you want those who are listening, who are struggling with those same things, to understand that they’re not alone,” he said. “They see a success story in front of them that comes from the same place that they come from, it motivates them and inspires them to be the best version of themselves and knowing that they have a way to get out of the circumstances that they’re dealing with.”

This was his first visit to the alternative school. He was impressed with its professionalism.

“I definitely would love to come back here. I really like the fact that it’s a safe haven for these kids. Extra hands and people to help them move in the right direction,” he said. “I really appreciate them for allowing me and allowing Sports World to come here.”

Alternative School Director Vance Miller thanked Fluellen for coming, as well as engaging and challenging the students.

“His speech was very informative. It resonates with a lot of our kids for a lot of different reasons. He touched on something every kid can relate to,” he said. “He talked about taking that pain and using it for good and choose success. Everyone had a different hand dealt to them. How you play that hand is what ultimately determines your success in life.”

Miller commended the Sports World program for reaching out to the alternative school. He said the program is welcome to return if the opportunity arises.

Several staff members from the nearby Jefferson County Educational Service Center Virtual Learning Academy also attended for support.

The alternative school is house in the School of Bright Promise, 256 John Scott Highway.

The JCESC works with school districts including Buckeye Local, Edison, Harrison Hills, Indian Creek, Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, Steubenville City Schools, Southern Local, Toronto and Utica Shale Academy.

More information about the alternative school can be found at https://www.jcesc.k12.oh.us/AlternativeSchool.aspx.