Rochester Better Chance Foundation

Rochester Better Chance (RBC) provides bright, talented and aspiring minority candidates with a mentoring and nurturing home environment, optimizing their opportunities to excel in school and community settings. This prepares them for an excellent college education and future leadership opportunities.

Eric Stanlaski, a teacher’s perspective, working with RBC’s scholars:

 

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work with the young RBC scholars? I have had the opportunity to work with these fine young men for the past three years. I’d like to share some of the lessons I have learned:

 

• The strength/courage they have to leave family and friends
• Their determination to excel both in their academics and extra-curricular involvement
• Their resilience to life’s challenges that many of us may never encounter
• They become role models for peers with their work ethic and charisma

 

For an entire school year these young scholars see their families during winter, spring and summer breaks. The rest of the year they are under the guidance of RBC house parents. For a young teenager this means missing the chance to celebrate many of life’s special events such as birthdays, school activities/celebrations with their families. But even in light of this, all of the young men show up day after day with the same enthusiasm and drive to take advantage of all that John Marshall has to offer.

 

These young scholars are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA while taking many Honor and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Even though these courses require a great deal of time on task, the scholars take advantage of our extracurricular opportunities. They have been engaged in math league, basketball, wrestling, student council, S3 (Science Club) and school fundraisers.

 

At the young age of 14, the scholars leave family and friends traveling many, many miles to start a new adventure. This would be difficult for many adults but these young men readily accept the challenge. Imagine moving from Southern California or Chicago to Rochester, Minnesota without your family to support you. Not an easy task for anyone…brrr!

 

John Marshall High School Staff are proud to have been involved with RBC these many years, and we look forward to our continued participation in the program.