Okay, so today I want to talk about this thing called “Empower Raiders in Jackson County.” I got involved with this a while back, and man, it’s been quite a ride.

First off, I started by digging into what this whole “Empower” thing was about. Turns out, it’s this big deal for students at East Jackson High School and Jackson County High School. They set up this Empower College and Career Center (they call it EmpowerC3), and it’s all about getting kids ready for jobs and college and stuff. They partner with businesses around here to make it happen. Sounds pretty cool, right?
Then, I got to thinking about how I could actually help out. It seemed like there was this whole other side to it, something about “Raiders.” I found out these are like, athletic competitions for JROTC programs, with push-ups, obstacle courses, running, and even first aid. That got me really interested. I used to be pretty good at that kind of stuff, and I thought, maybe I could coach or mentor these kids.
So, I reached out to the folks at EmpowerC3. I told them about my idea. Also, I mentioned that Jackson County’s graduation rate is way up at 96 percent, which is awesome compared to the state average of 85.4 percent. It shows that this place is doing something right, and I wanted to be a part of it.
I also did some more digging. The program also has activities related to Emergency preparedness, and there is some cooperation with the American Red Cross.
After a few meetings, we started putting together a plan. I’d come in a few times a week and help the JROTC kids train for these Raider competitions. I’d show them some workout routines, help them with the obstacle course, and even teach them some basic first aid. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.
Here’s what we did:
- Training Sessions: We set up regular training sessions after school. We started with basic stuff like push-ups, sit-ups, and running. Then we moved on to more specific training for the Raider events.
- Obstacle Course Practice: This was the most fun part. We built a makeshift obstacle course on the school grounds and practiced running it over and over again.
- First Aid Lessons: I taught the kids some basic first aid skills, like how to bandage a wound or splint a broken bone. They seemed to really enjoy this part, and it’s a good skill to have, no matter what.
Honestly, it’s been a really rewarding experience. It was tough at times, but seeing these kids improve and get excited about the competitions made it all worthwhile. It really got me thinking about how important it is to give back to the community and help out the younger generation. It’s not just about teaching them skills, but also about being a good role model and showing them that hard work pays off. Plus, it’s a great way to stay in shape! So, if you’re looking for a way to get involved in your community, I definitely recommend checking out something like this. It’s a win-win for everyone.