Natchez — Six teens graduated from the Adolescent Offender Program in Adams County Wednesday.

AOP offers juveniles, who’ve been involved in criminal activity, a closely monitored environment, help with schoolwork and the support necessary to turn their lives around.

AOP is a three-phase program to help rehabilitate troubled youth. One student also moved up to phase three Wednesday.

Guest speaker and Director of Youth Services for the Mississippi Department of Human Services Kathy Pittman said these graduations are her favorite events to attend.

“This is all about moving forward and leaving the past behind,” she said.

Pittman said Adams County is going to need good leaders in the future, and graduating from the AOP program is a step in the right direction.

“I was very impressed with (the graduates’) career goals they have selected,” she said. “Anything is possible, but you have to do work to get there.”

Enthusiasm is one thing you need to do well in the future, Pittman said.

“You have to love what you do to succeed,” she said. “If you do that, half of what it takes to get the job you want is done.”

Pittman also said initiative is required to be successful in life.

“Be a self starter,” she said. “Don’t let the boss tell you what to do. If you can’t supervise yourself, how are you going to supervise others.”

Having a positive attitude and showing integrity will get you a long way, Pittman said.

“You always need to do the right thing,” she said. “A good attitude can take you places no other one can.”

Judge John Hudson was present to hand out the diplomas and give the graduates some advice of his own.

“(These graduations) are some of the happier things I get to do,” he said. “What we want out of this is for (the graduates) have a productive and contributing life as citizens in society.”

Hudson said too many times students think of graduation as the end of something, but instead it should be looked at differently.

“Every graduation is a beginning, and what it’s the beginning of is up to you,” he said. “That is why we, through AOP, have tried to put the students in the best position to succeed.”