The government official was attending a meeting at a high school with problems meeting the educational goals established by the state and federal government. Her mind shifted between the decision to keep the watered-down state MCAS program that was perceived to be soon doomed, or switch to the federal PARRC (pronounced PORK) with its promise of "newness" and lots of money that should buy some years of public backing and provide false hopes that a federal program could solve a local problem. She liked to think while she walked.

She followed some students into a room with a lot of computers where some students were working, others watching sports videos, and still others looking at shoes or playing a video game. In the corner was an old man talking with a student. When the student left, the official approached and asked what he was doing. "I was mentoring" was the response. "Students stop by and I ask about what they want to do, help them with a plan and opportunities, encourage them to work hard, and offer to answer questions and review their progress. I do this to promote student achievement for everyone."

The official responded, "Don't you understand how many students are in this school, this state, and the nation? There are so many different problems, what makes you think that you can make a difference?"

The old man replied, "The girl that just left stopped by to tell me that she has not only been accepted to the private college of her choice, she just received a scholarship that will allow her to attend with almost no loans with a family EFC of zero.


I made a difference for her."

(Adapted from "The Star Thrower" by Loren Eiseley.)