NATCHEZ &8212; The only graduate present at Tuesday&8217;s first adult drug court graduation got a job offer on the spot.

The felony charge will be wiped from her record today, and as soon as the paperwork clears, she has an invitation to apply at the Isle of Capri, and depending on other factors, may get the job.

&8220;I&8217;m very proud of myself,&8221; said the graduate who asked that her name not be used. &8220;It was a lot of struggling. You just have to &8230; change your people, places and things.&8221;

Tuesday&8217;s graduate started the program 18 months ago, at its inception, and is the only participant to go through with a perfect record.

She never failed a drug test, and complied with all requirements, Judge Lillie Blackmon Sanders said.

Another woman was scheduled to graduate Tuesday but could not attend because of a death in the family.

Sanders and staff started the program in May 2004 with no money and few paid employees. Five felony offenders took part in the first class. Now there are 34 participants.

A team of counselors and staff reviews the lives of the participants, and the group meets with the judge weekly and the participant must account for what is happening in their lives.

&8220;Drug court is hard work,&8221; Sanders said Tuesday. &8220;We will keep struggling until everybody is clean.&8221;

Drug court is now funded through government grants and has a larger staff. Participants work through four phases and take random, frequent drug tests. Failed tests mean sanctions. They also must work toward holding down a job.

Judge Tyree Irving, a justice on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, told the graduate and the other participants to take charge of their lives.

&8220;You are responsible for yourself,&8221; Irving said. &8220;You have been given an opportunity not to go to the penitentiary.

&8220;There are other obstacles in life; there will be people in life who will entice you. Watch the company you keep.&8221;

And when you stumble, he said, get up again.

Five court participants moved from one phase to the next at Tuesday&8217;s ceremony. Later phases put more responsibility and fewer restrictions on the participants.

Drug court participants must have a history of drug abuse and a felony offense.