Oak Forest HS Students are Challenged to Live with Intention

Oak Forest High School Sophomore J.R. Ballentine is a good-natured sport for former Chicago Bears player Ray McElroy, who spoke at Oak Forest High School as a part of the Live with Intention Tour.

McElroy was demonstrating his most memorable moment in an AFC Championship game where he radically stopped another player from receiving the football, back when he was a professional defensive back NFL player.

American Idol Finalist Ray McElroy, recording artist Phil Stacey, and recording artist Trevor Hager, also spoke with the Live with Intention Tour, sponsored by PASS Network for Life. The theme of this tour is to empower students to seek out healthy relationship decisions for themselves.

Phil Stacey and Trevor Hager sang for the students, but emphasized the theme of making decisions that matter. Ray McElroy, now a professional motivational speaker, was the main speaker, holding the crowd spellbound with the stories of choices that he made in his life and career.

Each person emphasized the power of making decisions that students can be proud of. Phil Stacey said, “Your whole life is based on the decisions that you make. Each decision that you make builds on each other.” The speakers were advocating for making the best possible decisions within relationships.

Ray McElroy said, “What choices are your younger brothers or cousins or sisters or nephews seeing YOU make? If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.”

This program was organized by Oak Forest High School Health teacher Heather Manzke.