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\"To know that my students are being the voice of the youth right now and that they're saying something positive, and that they're using hip-hop to do it and it's being seen nationwide and worldwide, it's just huge,\" Sims said of the feedback received from the video.

Savannah Patterson said she thinks the song is important for other students her age to hear.

\"A lot of kids have been listening to negative songs and they probably know every lyric,\" Savannah added. \"So, I wanted everyone to see how many people will actually know the lyrics to our song and we wanted to motivate the kids and let them know that they're not standing alone.\"

Hopefully they can make striving for excellence popular again:) I love this! https://t.co/NyFYIHhSTK

— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) October 25, 2017

Student Aryn Fears said, \"I think it's important because some students try to fit in and be like everyone else, but you don't have to be like everybody else in order to succeed.\"

Sims said he hopes to encourage his know to believe that college is an obtainable goal.

\"I think, especially when you look at African-Americans in school, there's a strong stereotype that they're not supposed to be successful, but that is so far from the truth,\" he said. \"These lyrics are meant to show anybody that college is possible.\"

\"PHOTO:
Terrance Sims/YouTube
PHOTO: The educational rap video and song, "Excellence First," which encourages the message of staying in school, has been viewed, and learned by hundreds of thousands of people on social media and YouTube.
>

Asked what they'd like to be when they grow up, Savannah said she'd like to be a lawyer, and Aryn has dreams of becoming a singer.

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