Wes Moore, Army veteran and published author, spoke to the conference attendees yesterday  afternoon. He said that upon his return from  military service in Afghanistan a group of middle and high school teachers thanked him for his service. When he found out they were teachers, he thanked them for their service. He said to the educators present at our conference, "It is as important that you be successful at what you do, as military members be successful at what they do."

Wes then went on to tell us about his middle and high school experience at military school which helped him learn about leadership and service. The idea of leading became very important to him. After high school he went to college on a R0TC scholarship, eventually going to Johns Hopkins and becoming a Rhodes scholar.  At the same time that our speaker was experiencing great academic success, another man by the same name in his community  was arrested and convicted of the murder of a police sergeant. He sent him a letter asking questions of him and used the replies to write "The Other Wes Moore" and exploration of how two young men with similar backgrounds could travel such disparate paths.

He believes the following factors may explain the difference in outcomes:
Family, mentorship, education that imparts critical thinking/decision making, and the role of expectations. These factors greatly influence what young people grow up to be.

Wes Moore emphasized the importance of providing young people opportunities to be in charge of something, to exercise leadership and the importance of graduated responsibility that can be instilled in young people.  Wes Moore had a moving presentation.

Critical thinking, decision making, choices and leadership. Kids must be exposed to these before they make decisions that irrevocably affect their futures in elementary and middle school.  Wes said his mom always said "Kids need to think that you care before they care what you think."

The value of mentorship is in having people help you to see that which you can't see yourself.