So when actor Shay Roundtree, a graduate of T.W. Josey High School, spoke at the school last week, Mr. Moses was in the audience listening intently.

"It takes a lot of work to become an actor, especially to have done the things he has done," Mr. Moses said. "It was important to me to see someone who has made it and see that they haven't forgotten where they came from. He really encouraged me by what he said, and it lets me know that I can make it too if I continue to work hard."

Mr. Roundtree, 31, made his national acting debut in 2002 as "Big Rob" in the movie Drumline and has been featured in several television dramas, sitcoms and commercials.

During his June 25 presentation, he showed clips of his work, talked to summer school students about his experiences and encouraged them to dream.

"As long as you're alive, you can always follow that dream and reach your goals. I tell people the only way it's too late is when you're dead," he said.

Joshua Lewis was impressed by the way Mr. Roundtree connected with them.

"He was really interesting. He kept it real with us and didn't sugarcoat anything," Joshua said. "He let us know he wasn't the perfect student but he worked hard and that's what we have to do -- work hard."

Mr. Roundtree said he chose to make a casual presentation in order to reach the students.

"I didn't want to come off as a preacher or that I'm better than thou," he said. "So when I talk to teenagers, I tell them, 'Listen, this is the way it is.' I think so many people don't keep it real. I always felt that was the disconnect between adults and the youth of today.

''The world is real, and you have to be real with them."

Reach Nikasha Dicks at (706) 823-3336 or nikasha.dicks@augustachronicle.com.