VALDOSTA — Former NFL star and Superbowl winner and defensive end, Fred Stokes, spoke to more than 400 freshman at Valdosta High School Thursday.

Speaking at the VHS Center for Performing Arts, the retired star from Vidalia had the students in stitches for much of the program.

The purpose of Stokes’ speech was to encourage the students to change and that the only person that can promote that is themselves.

School for many students, is a safe zone, a place that gets them out of a bad environment either within the home or neighborhood, he said.

As Stokes encouraged them to look forward to being sophomores and eventually seniors he told them to look around at all the students gathered.

“Look around because by the time you get to the 12th grade some of you won’t be here,” Stokes said.

He then cautioned the students not to blame society, or the teachers or even their environment. Quitting, Stokes said, can only be blamed on the person that chose to leave school.

After 10 years in the NFL, and two knee surgeries his final year in the league, Stokes retired and went back to college.

His college ring, simple with a eagle representing Georgia Southern University, represents more to him than the Superbowl ring studded with 29 diamonds, Stokes said.

“My college ring is more important to me because somebody said I couldn’t make it,” Stokes said. “So I fought for it.”

The oldest son of a teenage mother, Stokes said his mother ruled their house with a firm hand, determined that he and his sisters not make the same choices she did.

While regaling the students with tales of mighty whippings from his mother, Stokes encouraged the audience to realize that those teachers and administrators that seem to dislike them or antagonize them may actually care for them the most.

Stokes was brought to VHS by the GEAR UP Program. The program works with ninth and 10th grade students by providing mentoring, tutoring, college visits and workshops in an effort to improve the retention and graduation rate of VHS.