Many students drop out of school due to the lack of positive role models and influences. Students who drop out do so because they are not encouraged and motivated to do well. High school drop outs are usually under achievers who are lazy and fail to work to their full potential. Students who are places "at risk" due to poverty, race, ethnicity, language, or other factors are rarely well served by their schools. They are placed in classes and programs that hold low expectations for them. Why would a student want to excel when they are already expected to fail? These students who drop out usually have no mentors or people in their life who dare them to dream big and strive for success. I truly believe in the adages that you "can't shove a great life into a small dream" & that "it takes a team to stream my dream". Those two doctrines were recently instilled in me by my life coach/mentor Tony MaGee through the Angel City Links Achievers program.

If I was to receive $5,000 to stop this epidemic, I would start a mentoring program for the "at-risk" students. I have experienced how beneficial a mentor can be. These students just aren't observing enough success and achievement to know that they can do better. They have grown up with unconstructive role models who aren't leading them in the proper direction. The use of mentors will greatly help. Each student will be assigned to a mentor who will serve as a life instructor. The mentors will be able to help the students with any problems they have, whether it be academically, domestically, or socially. They'll be taught the art of survival, stability, and eventually success and significance. And, they'll be taught to manage life's three best friends: time, energy, and money. Also, the principle to not make excuses will be instilled in them and take 100% responsibility for their own actions, because "excuses are the tools of the incompetent and make masters of nothingness." Just having someone to be able to talk to, confide in, and receive constructive advice will go a long way in helping the students. Mentoring makes a big difference: "When kids enjoy a regular, positive activity with an adult over the course of a year, those kids are 46% less likely to begin using drugs, 27% less likely to begin using alcohol, and 52% less likely to skip school. This decreases drug-related suspensions, drug-related crime, and the number or babies born drug-affected" (Littlefield, 2010).

Mentoring will help because it guarantees the students that there is someone who cares about them. They will receive constant encouragement, inspiration, and support. It is easy for a student to take the easy road and drop out, but the mentor will be there to expose them to the advantages of taking the high roads to success.