Monday’s meeting at the Natchez Convention Center may have been the most important meeting in the building’s history.

Interestingly, no high-level executives were in attendance. No governors, senators or members of congress were there, at least not current holders of those offices.

The people in attendance, however, are arguably much more important than any of today’s leaders; the attendees were tomorrow’s leaders.

And the lessons they heard were tough, but necessary ones.

Law enforcement expert Juan Cloy told a group of Natchez area high school teens about his experience with police, crime and violence.

Across the nation — and here in our community — the attitude toward law enforcement officers needs to be improved among some. A lack of respect for authority — and lawfulness — has caused the denigration of our nation’s men and women in blue.

Cloy tried to use his experience to encourage the students to think about their actions and make good choices about which path they intend to follow in life.

All too often actions made as teenagers steer a person’s life on a course that can be difficult to correct.

We appreciate the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce for bringing Cloy to Natchez.

If his message causes a single student to rethink what could be a disastrous decision, the effort would be well worth the time invested.