A Mentoring Moment at Mount Washington Middle School (BCPS)

At Mount Washington Middle School, mentor Pam Lafollette recently led students through a simple but powerful idea: creating “Room to Make Mistakes.” Instead of focusing on the final product—or worrying about what they can’t do yet—students were encouraged to explore, experiment, and enjoy the process.

To set the tone, Pam shared small, hand-painted cards with encouraging notes on the back—tiny reminders that creativity doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Then students dove in with watercolor pens, acrylic pens, metallic pens, and sparkle ink pens, creating small, worry-free abstract paintings just for fun.

Moments like this are where mentoring and public schools shine. When caring adults and educators work side by side, students gain more than a new art technique—they gain confidence, belonging, and hope. This is the impact of collaborative work: building spaces where students feel safe to try, to learn, and to keep going.

Want to be part of the mission? When our community shows up for students, their world gets bigger. Join us in supporting mentoring in our public schools—because every student deserves room to make mistakes, and people who believe in them while they grow.