Beating the Odds: Helping At-Risk Youth Get to College
It’s a wintry February afternoon in Hailey. Seventy-five students at Wood River High School are meeting with one of the nation’s leading experts on peer mentoring, Missy Wilkins. Students from the 9th, 10th and 11th grades are the first participants in the Wood River College Aspirations Program. They are being trained to mentor 3rd graders at Bellevue Elementary School.
Missy asks, “How many of you will be the first person in your family to attend college?” Almost 90% of the students raise their hands. Also, the hand of Alan Pesky, founder of Lee Pesky Learning Center, goes up. Missy turns to Alan for an explanation.
Alan tells his story of his early years in the Bronx, working hard at school, becoming captain of his New York City high school basketball team, and going to Lafayette College. He also expresses his pride in being the first in his family to take this step. Later, one student says, “Wow, if Mr. Pesky did it, why not me?”
Three hours away in Caldwell, 3rd and 4th graders in the Caldwell College Aspirations Program at Sacajawea Elementary School are talking about college with David Holmes, LPLC Executive Director. He asks, “How did you like your visit to the College of Idaho?”
Enthusiastic students share what stood out for them: the “cool” science professor, the friendly college kids who showed them around, the big campus, the french fries in the cafeteria. Holmes asks, “Are you all going to college?” All forty-five students shout, “YES!”
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