MURRIETA —— If someone had told Keith Thamma two years ago that he would be a guest on a television show with the district's superintendent to serve as an example of a student role model, the Murrieta teenager likely would have laughed in their face.

That's because two years ago, Keith wore gang-style clothing, dealt drugs and was failing his classes, the 16-year-old said during an interview Monday at his Murrieta home.

But the Keith of the past is gone, said the Vista Murrieta High School junior. His transition from a gang member to a model student didn't happen overnight, however. It was gradual, helped along by educators, his parents and new friends, Keith said.

And this month, Keith is indeed featured on Murrieta Valley Unified School District's self-produced show "Spotlight on Success," hosted by Superintendent Chet Francisco, as an example of a student who has turned his life around.

"When I first came (to Murrieta), I was hanging out with wrong people, doing the wrong things, going to the wrong places," Keith said. "One thing led to another. My grades were plunging; I was caught up in the biggest downfall of my life."

"But reality checks here and there helped me realize that I didn't have to live like that," Keith said. "I just knew there were so many other things I could do —— so many better things."

Some of the reality checks came from district officials. During his freshman year, Keith said he was pulled into the administration office and photographed by law enforcement as a gang member. It was during that episode that educators started to reach out to him, Keith said.

After Keith and district officials started to get to know one another, he was chosen to help with the district's Peer Leaders Uniting Students program, he said, adding that sometimes educators target students like himself to be in the program to change them for the better.

"They were working on improving me," Keith said. "That's why they put me in the class."

The district's peer leaders classes consist of a diverse group of specially trained high school students selected by educators to help other students, as well as those at the district's middle and elementary schools, break down stereotypes.

To do that, "forums" are conducted at various campuses during which peer leaders help a large group of students get to know each other through a variety of activities.

Keith has been involved with the program since his sophomore year, and although he acknowledges that he was still up to no good in the beginning of that year, being a part of that program helped him realize he was leading the wrong kind of lifestyle, he said.

Keith also credits his mother's tough love for his change, as she would search his room and insist he tell her what he was up to. Another influential person was Chuck Palmer, a learning coordinator at Vista Murrieta, who Keith said would check up on him every day.

Underscoring Keith's change was the recent stabbing death of one of his former close friends, which made Keith a stronger advocate for the straight and narrow, he said. Although he had already changed for the better when he learned of his old friend's death at a party last September, Keith said he could have been at the same party right next to his buddy.

"It made me want to try harder to change other people's lives," Keith said of the incident.

And he certainly is doing that. As far as Francisco is concerned, Keith sets a good example, helps others believe in themselves and "has really become a peer teacher," the superintendent said on the district's television show. Francisco was unavailable for comment Monday.

"It's a great story," Francisco had said after Keith talked about his life change. "We talk a lot about adults connecting with kids and kids connecting with their peers. We didn't make (Keith change), we just took the time to see what's there in him."

And when Keith tells students about his past, they don't believe him, he said.

"Anyone who is willing to open up their ears and listen to what I have to say, I am telling them," Keith said about his experiences. "I know I've made a difference in other people's lives. And people I love and people who love me, they see how different I am than the way I was before."

One such person is Keith's mom, Kara Thamma.

"I am so proud of him" she said right before giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "We are so happy and relieved."

Contact staff writer Jennifer Kabbany at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2625, or jkabbany@californian.com.