At the start of the year, Kayden couldn’t seem to catch a break.
He was missing school, drifting off in class, barely turning in work. Focus was hard to come by, and even when he showed up, it was like part of him wasn’t fully there. The noise of 5th-grade school life, the drama, the distractions, and the pressure to fit in kept pulling him away from his own potential.
But something shifted when Mark stepped in.
He didn’t come in with a lecture or a list of rules. He came with something stronger: presence. A steady belief that Kayden could rise, and an unwavering commitment to walk with him until he did.
Mark didn’t push. He partnered. He didn’t rescue. He reminded Kayden of his own strength and the leader within him. Every check-in, every quiet moment of encouragement, every chance to try again, it started to add up.
And then, one day, Kayden didn’t need the reminder. He stayed awake. He locked in. He finished his work.
Now? He finds Mark every afternoon, face lit up, to show him the work he’s done for the day.
It’s not just about completing assignments anymore, it’s about claiming a new identity. One choice at a time.
Kayden is stepping into something even bigger: leadership.
Now, Kayden asks to stay after school to help with the STEM & Sports program, and he offers to run activities and guide his classmates. His peers are starting to look to him, not just because he’s doing well, but because he’s setting the tone.
And recently, when faced with real pressure from peers vaping in the bathroom, Kayden didn’t just say no, he stood firm, even when others gave in. That’s courage. That’s self-respect. That’s leadership in action.
It starts with one kid deciding to show up differently, and one mentor believing they can.
Because of supporters like you, Kayden didn’t just get attention. He got a transformation. He got a champion who saw something in him and helped him see it too.
And when a young person discovers that kind of strength within themselves? That’s the kind of transformation that shapes a future. That’s the power of TCP mentors. 💛
