When Whitney Institute student Chioke McGhie-Raynor joined Mirrors’ Coaching For Success Programme, he wasn’t sure he liked what he had signed up for.The 13-year-old has now completed the nine-month programme and has gained a place on the honour roll.It puts him one step closer to his goal of being accepted into Saltus Grammar School, and eventually becoming a graduate.His mother, Nicole McGhie, suggested that he get involved with the Mirrors Programme.“[She felt] that I was having a rough time and I was behaving inappropriately,” he said.“My mom saw it as a way for me to change myself and to have a clearer vision of my future.”Chioke met with his mentor, Leleath Bailey, on a weekly basis. The programme was also initially a challenge her. In her daily work as a life coach she mostly interacted with older males.But on signing up as a Mirrors volunteer, she was assigned a 13-year-old.“I thought, ‘how am I going to cope with that?’ she recalled.“It turned out quite well. He is very bright; his grades are continuously improving and he is always achieving his goals. Whatever he wanted to do, he put his all in it.“If I told him to do something, he listened and got on with his project right away.”Jeanene Todd of Mirrors said that the aim of Coaching for Success was to prevent children from going astray.“It is to help the young people to stay engaged with education and seeing how they can be successful students.“If we can keep them involved with education at the middle school level it will reduce the risk of antisocial behaviour in the long-term.“Transitioning into high school is a lot for a young person, so if we can support them with the educational side … it will make sure that they graduate successfully from high school.”The skills gained can be used throughout their lives, she added.“These are skills that you can take from middle school to high school to your professional life. These are lifelong skills that they can take anywhere.“People aren’t learning those skills, they want to go to school, but they are waiting for it to fall in their lap, so it’s really teaching them to be in action and to really go for what they want.”Mentors have monthly meeting with participants in the programme outside of the school setting. The idea is to focus on such issues as trust and responsibility. There is also a workshop for parents.Mrs McGhie said she found the orientation programme helpful as a parent. She said she initially thought the programme was only for troubled youths, but then saw where her son could benefit.“The information that I received has helped in all areas of my life and I think it has helped improve our relationship,” she said.“And he seems to be more organised than before the Mirrors Programme. He is more serious about setting goals and mapping his way to accomplish them.“I found out that these were life skills that he could carry throughout his life.”Ms Todd added: “We work with all young people, because all young people are at risk, even the straight A students. The programme supports them in their personal development.”Chioke’s long-term aim is to become a scientist. He believes the programme is helping him towards that goal.“I’ve gotten a new way to express myself and [I know] who I want to be for the rest of my life.“I focus more in class and I really don’t talk that much. I’m a little more outspoken in class and I participate more. And I am happy that my mom put me in the programme.”For more information e-mail kjjudd[AT]gov.bm or mirrors[AT]gov.bm or telephone 294-9295.