MMA fighters promote ‘positive choices’ at Merced’s Sequoia High
%20AK%20Positive%20Choices%20Day%203.jpg "Sequoia High School students look on during a sparring demonstration by mixed martial arts fighters in Merced on Friday. The fighters were invited to speak at the school during Positive Choices Day.")
Students at Sequoia High School heard from mixed martial artists during a “Positive Choices Day” assembly Friday afternoon.
The athletes shared with the students stories from their adolescent years as well as advice on how to turn their lives around.
Yvette Brisco, a substitute teacher at the high school and one of the event organizers, said bringing MMA fighters as motivational speakers to the school was a way to give the at-risk student population positive messages through people they would relate to.
“Most of the student body likes MMA, and they respect these fighters,” Brisco said. “They always hear from teachers and their parents, but by bringing the fighters to campus, they get to hear these messages from the people they admire.”
Seven fighters, including UFC’s Michael “Mayday” McDonald and Joe Soto, as well as Bellalator’s Karo Parisyan and Javy Ayala, advised students to put their energy into something positive and find their passion.
“In high school, I didn’t always do the right thing,” 23-year-old McDonald, a Modesto native, told students. “I skated by, never put in the effort, even though I was smart enough to do well.”
McDonald explained that his reason for not trying was because he didn’t feel anybody cared enough for him to try. But as soon as he started fighting professionally, he learned that he cared enough to make positive changes in his own life.
The fighters also shared some of the lessons and traits mixed martial arts has taught them. These included self-control, discipline, anger management and to never underestimate anyone.
After a question-and-answer session with students, fighters participated in sparring demonstrations for the students and autographed posters.
“I hope the students received the messages, and hopefully they’ll be motivated to make positive choices,” Brisco said.
Sun-Star staff writer Ana B. Ibarra can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or aibarra@mercedsunstar.com.
This story was originally published October 26, 2014 at 7:50 PM with the headline "MMA fighters promote ‘positive choices’ at Merced’s Sequoia High."