Whatcom View: Mentors help students succeed in school, life

Many of us have been fortunate to have benefitted from the good advice of mentors in our lives – perhaps a supportive parent, relative or teacher. But for some, role models can be absent, not readily apparent or even negative.

Years ago, when living in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I had a chance encounter with a 10-year-old fifth grader. When I asked the boy what he planned to be when he grew up, his answer stunned me – his father was in jail so he expected to end up in jail just like his father.