THE ORIGINAL EDITION · THE STORY
At seventeen, Melvin Williams had a mugshot. Today he is living proof of the power of mentorship.
He lost his father to gun violence, grew up watching his mother battle addiction, and by every statistic his story should have ended badly. It didn't, because of people who believed in him. In this original edition, Melvin shares his true story and the people who changed it, with a simple message: small actions of belief can change the direction of a life, and every one of us has the power to mentor someone.
For individuals: parents, families, students, neighbors, and anyone who wants to make a difference in one young person's life.
Inside the Book
I was that kid.
Melvin lost his father to gun violence, grew up with a parent battling addiction, and had a mugshot at seventeen. What changed everything was people who believed in him before he believed in himself.
Small actions of belief.
A kind word. A listening ear. A simple smile. This book shows how the smallest acts of support can change the direction of a person's life.
The mentors who changed his life.
His mother, his aunt, teachers, business leaders, and strangers whose kindness reached him in his darkest moments.
A call to action.
You don't need a title to make a difference. Whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, employer, or neighbor, someone is waiting for your belief.
Pay it forward.
From at-risk youth to technology CEO and nonprofit founder, Melvin now pours into the next generation. Belief multiplies when we pass it on.
New to mentoring? Read Mentorship: What It Is, Why It Works, and How Anyone Can Mentor.