Fountain Hills High School students heard from ASU’s Alonzo Jones last week, the first in a series of lunchtime presentations being brought to the local campus by the Fountain Hills Coalition.

Jones’ talk focused on what it takes to find success as a student, athlete and person, drawing on a 25-year career in higher education.

Jones is the associate athletic director for Championship Life and Inclusion at ASU’s Tempe campus, where he manages and creates programs that support the academic, personal and cultural development of students and student athletes. Previously, Jones served as associate dean of students for ASU.

Jones has spoken at more than 200 high schools, colleges and universities over the years, bringing his messages to more than 100,000 students across the nation.

In Jones’ talks, he explains that, as a teen, his father’s guiding measurement was how he performed academically. In other words, he could enjoy all of the other things teen life had to offer so long as he was making solid grades.

In contrast, when Jones made decisions and led his life based on his social identity, things didn’t always turn out so hot. As a result, he encourages the young thinkers of the world to lead primarily by their most important identity (especially in young life) that of a student.

Jones also holds that the identity a person presents to the world is dictated by the people they surround themselves with. As an example, he’s a father to his kids, a husband to his wife and a son to his own father. In other words, the identity one chooses to lead by can be greatly influenced by the identity of the people in their life and where they choose to spend their time.

Jones holds that there’s an appropriate time and place for all of the identities that make up an individual. “Social” when hanging out with friends and “student” in the classroom are appropriate identities, but the social identity should not lead the way in the classroom.

Through all of that, Jones spoke to the hindrance drugs and alcohol can have on a person’s life. No matter what identity a teen wants to lead with, substance abuse is only going to get in the way. A “student” is always preparing for the future; something that can’t be achieved while under the influence.