Andrew Jones' life was spinning out of control.

"I used to be bad," said the eighth-grader at Sayreville Middle School. "I was always getting into trouble. I was heading down the wrong path."

That is until Andrew, 14, hooked up with the GoodWorx Foundation MTC — Meet the Child/Mentoring, Tutoring, Life-Coaching — after school program.

"Now I'm on the A/B honor roll," he said. "I haven't gotten in trouble this year. I'm proud of myself. I learned a lot of good things like how to do good in life and how to organize yourself. I don't know where I would be now without them."

Since last year, the GoodWorx Foundation's MTC program has been providing pupils at the Sayreville Middle School academic support and tutoring, while teaching them valuable life skills.

The program began last year as a pilot program for about 15 at-risk pupils and was expanded this year to include any pupils interested in the program, said Jeffrey Jordan of Manalapan, the founder and president of the nonprofit GoodWorx Foundation.

This year's class has grown to about 30 pupils, he said.

The program will be introduced into the Samsel Upper Middle School next month and hopefully will be expanded into the elementary schools in the next three years, he said.

The GoodWorx Foundation, which tutors and mentors students on a private basis, was founded in 2003 by Jordan.

"My philosophy as a parent and a professional is that we live in an entitled society and I think our children are grossly unprepared for the life issues that will come to them," said Jordan, whose children attended the Sayreville schools. "We want to provide these kids with a dynamic, interactive experience that concentrates on the life skills that they will need now, in high school and in college. Our goal is to follow these kids from age 8 to 23 offering assistance along the way."

With the help of Sayreville Middle School principal Donna Jakubik, the MTC philosophy was introduced as an after school program at the school.

"Our goal is to instill within them the confidence necessary to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential," said Jordan.

The three-part MTC program includes an hour of academic support and tutoring, followed by seminars focusing on 12 different life skill topics that include time management, career planning, finances and budgeting and peer pressure. A recreation component also is included in the program.

The program also includes the Onward and Upward program, in which eighth-graders from the middle school and ninth graders from high school discuss transitional issues that face going from middle to high school, and a peer leadership program, in which high schoolers volunteer their time to the after-school program.

During a visit to the middle school last week, the pupils were learning communication skills, under the direction of Frances Ramirez and Michael Jacobs, both of GoodWorx, aided by Sayreville War Memorial High schooler Jeff Taylor.

Pupils were given a target word and asked to repeat the first word that came into their heads.

"It's a very on your toes type of thing," Ramirez said. "You have to think on your feet."

They then reviewed the previous day's lesson in which they learned how to successfully interview for a job.

Ramirez then reviewed the rules for proper etiquette in a controlled debate and the group broke into two teams as they discussed the pros and cons of extending the school year to all year round or keeping the schedule as it is.