The Hand That Guide

In “The Other Wes Moore, the author attributes much of his achievement, in part, to counselors who challenged him to face his own self-destructive tendencies and to aim for a good life. He concedes the key part that people such as Colonel Battalia playing at Valley Forge Military Academy and his mother, Joy, have taken in sending him back there in the first place.. These people saw something in him that he couldn't see in himself, and they would not let him rest for anything less than his absolute potential. In the end it simply comes down to their deep convictions and intense love, which ultimately lead him to a success path.

Reading about Wes's transformative experiences got me thinking about the influence of mentors in my own life. Though I have not experienced the same tribulations as Wes, I have been lucky enough to have people, who have lead, encouraged and motivated me. For instance, an exemplary individual is my senior English teacher Ms. Johnson.

Ms. Johnson was much more than just an instructor, she was a committed supporter of her students, an individual who truly cared about the both inside and outside the classroom development of the students. She possessed an extraordinary capacity to create an individual connection with each of us by identifying us on a personal basis, by knowing our personal strengths and our personal weaknesses. I was a quiet, even somewhat insecure student, reluctant to contribute to classroom deliberations or to disclose my writing. Ms. Johnson, however, saw something in me, a spark of creativity that she nurtured with encouragement and constructive feedback.

She encouraged me to challenge myself, to try something new and step on a different ground, to think something new. She put me into a world of literature and showed me how words can be used to awaken, trigger and transform individuals. Her exuberance was infectious, and her faith in my potential gave me the motivation to follow through on my dream of writing. I also remember how she carefully read my essays, offering extensive, itemized comments and recommendations for quality improvement. She not only pointed out errors, but also explained the meaning of the errors and how the errors can be avoided in the future. She made me understand that there is a power in clearly and simply communicating a message, and that power has stayed with me in all of my experiences.

Here is a picture of me (the one in the white shirt) and other friends with Mrs. Johnson during our last field trip to Washington D.C.

Besides studies, Ms. Johnson also taught me the value of empathy and social responsibility. She suggested to us to make a connection with the world as it exists, to notice the pain of others and to speak up to bring about change. She arranged volunteer work at community shelters and neighborhood centers to encourage civicmindedness and empathy in her pupils.

Ms. Johnson's influence extended far beyond my high school years. She went on to serve as another source of support and direction for the difficulties that college presented and what came after. She wrote letters of recommendation, provided career guidance and congratulated me on my progress, at every turn. I am still to this day using the lessons I learned from her, both professionally and personally.

A mentor can be powerful, not just in its effect on our skills and knowledge, but also our values and world view. They provide us with a framework for dealing with the vicissitudes of life, comforting and assisting us when we stumble. They look to us as they search for opportunities and may we, as they do with ourselves, reach towards success.

As Wes Moore passionately describes in his book, a mentor can be the deciding factor in attaining success or losing out and in finding hope or hopelessness. There is the lighthouse, shining before our eyes to help us navigate us to the brightest of the best. I remain incredibly thankful for the mentors who have guided my way, and one of my aims is to give back by mentoring others and having a positive influence on their lives.