Seventh grade students at Salisbury Middle School are now equipped with the tools to be successful after attending a 13-week course called All Stars at the school.

One day a week, 140 students met with facilitator Nicole Elias with Valley Youth House, to learn about making good choices.

This program is designed to delay the onset of high-risk behaviors in middle school age adolescents and has been offered in Salisbury for many years.

All Stars is based on strong research by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminstration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that reinforces positive qualities typical of youth at this age. It works to strengthen five specific qualities including developing positive ideals and future aspirations, establishing positive norms, building strong personal commitments, promoting bonding with the school and community organizations and promoting positive parental attentiveness.

The program is presented to SMS students courtesy of Penn State Extension and Valley Youth House. It is incorporated into the school day.

In one of the sessions, students set goals they would like to have in their future such as traveling, starting a family, continual learning and peace.

The students learned about having a vision and how that would be relative to their future. Students talked about ideas and what it would take to have their ideal futures such as knowledge and effort.

Research has shown if a student is educated at this age, poor decision-making can be prevented.

Parents are also involved in this course, as students are encouraged to take their paperwork home and initiate a conversation with an adult about their vision, choices and goals for the future.

According to the SAMHSA, there are proven results such as an increased commitment to avoid substance abuse and other high-risk behaviors, an increased belief that substance use and high-risk behaviors would interfere with one's desired lifestyle and an increased bonding to school.

At the graduation ceremony April 26, Principal Robert Cassidy created a video of students reading their ideals, goals and career choices.

Career choices of chef and writer were just some mentioned.

The video ended with a student reiterating what the seventh grade class took from the All Stars program. "Our future is decided by our choices."