Ray’s Story

At Mentoring Plus, we meet young people at some of the most difficult crossroads in their lives. One of those young men—we’ll call him Ray—came to us through court diversion, carrying the weight of more than just charges. At only 13, Ray had already been through more than most adults: an unstable home, school suspensions, and a quick temper that made it hard for him to trust anyone.

When Ray entered our program, he was quiet—angry, yes—but mostly shut down. He didn’t see a future for himself. He was failing in school, on diversion, and close to giving up. But we saw something else in Ray. We saw resilience, intelligence, and a fire that just needed to be redirected.

Through weekly one-on-one mentoring, Ray was matched with a caring adult who showed up—consistently and without judgment. Someone who listened more than they talked. Over time, that consistency made a difference. Ray started to open up about his struggles with anger, his frustrations with school, and his fear of being labeled a “lost cause.”

Our team worked alongside his mentor to help him build emotional regulation tools, re-engage with his education, and find healthy outlets for his anger through activities like art and fitness. He also got involved in our life skills groups, where he met peers with similar stories—young people learning to turn things around together.

It wasn’t always easy. Ray had setbacks, missed a few nights, and got close to giving up more than once. But every time, his mentor and our staff were there to bring him back in—not with punishment, but with patience and purpose.

After several months of hard work, Ray completed his diversion requirements. His charges were dropped. His record was clean. But even more importantly—he believed he was worth something again.

Today, Ray is back in school full-time, working with his mom to tackle his mental health, and starting to dream about a future that includes college. He’s not “fixed”—because people aren’t broken—but he’s walking the right path now, and he knows he’s not walking it alone.

At Mentoring Plus, we don’t offer magic solutions. What we offer is something simple but powerful: connection, consistency, and a belief in every young person’s ability to change their story. Jay is just one of many who remind us that with the right support, no one is too far gone.