BNz wants to send a “BIG THANKS” to our star corresspondent, Stephanie Carr for today’s inspirational story.

According to a 2006, ABC News article high school dropouts are tremendously high in several of the largest school systems across the country from Baltimore to Cleveland to Atlanta and Oakland, California; with on average roughly half of the students are dropping out.

However, the problem is beyond the mega cities this dilemma has infested rural and suburbia school districts across the nation as well. Unfortunately, often time the greater the population the greater the need. A recent Department of Education study indicated that 31 percent of American students were dropping out or failing to graduate in the top 100 largest public school districts in the U.S.

Many factors have been directly linked to high school withdraws like poverty and shorter life spans. Although the failure rate is high there are plans and systems in place to undo this nationally shared epidemic through a great deal of commitment and valuable volunteerism, in the form of academic mentoring. Unquestionably, academic mentors play an essential part in the buildup of today’s youth. Mentors help to raise the morale of dwindling students struggling academically as well as socially.

Communities full with fluent adult mentors that are relentlessly committed to teenager’s success, help teens to make attentive choices, by teaching them to take control of their lives. Mentors help students to assess their strengths and weaknesses, both academically and socially. Mentors also help students to develop valuable skills for success and along with a list of long-range goals.

The presents of mentors mentor can help foster the student’s sense of belongingness and, help to improve the students’ knack for, while identifying some key issues of interest. The best mentors have perfected the art of facilitating others decision-making process by suggesting alternatives rather than telling the mentee what to do. Even with large number of mentors, National studies still show that on average about 2,500 students drop out of U.S. high schools every day.

Will you volunteer your services to make a difference in the life of one child? Volunteer your time during the month of January, as we celebrate National Mentoring Month, remember each one teach one!