Fourth grade felt overwhelming for Lotus*. Instability at home and inconsistent attendance had taken a toll on her learning. She struggled to focus, lacked confidence in her abilities, and approached school assignments with hesitation. A fall reading assessment reflected those challenges: Lotus scored below the 30th percentile in reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary.

Thankfully, Lotus had something every child deserves—a trusted adult committed to her success.During weekly mentoring visits, Lotus's Friend Cortney balanced hard work with laughter. They tackled math with a tutor at the Friends clubhouse, read books aloud using funny character voices, and used movement breaks and fidget tools to make learning feel fun instead of frustrating.

Outside those visits, Cortney worked closely with Lotus's family and teachers to build consistent school attendance, establish homework routines, and celebrate every success along the way.

Slowly, Lotus began to believe in herself. By spring, she proudly presented a book report—an assignment many of her classmates had not yet completed. And when Friends' Education Coordinator assessed Lotus again in June, she saw remarkable growth: Lotus had improved 3 percentile points in reading fluency, 20 percentile points in reading comprehension, and an incredible 24 percentile points in vocabulary. She scored above the 30th percentile in all three reading categories.

This summer, Lotus enthusiastically participated in the Friends Summer Reading Challenge, and this fall she entered fifth grade without needing reading intervention groups or additional reading supports. The numbers tell an important story. But the bigger story is about a child who now walks into school believing she belongs there, knowing she can succeed.

That's the power of a Friend who shows up week after week with encouragement, patience, and unwavering belief in potential.

*Name and photo are not connected to this story for privacy.