Mentoring Matters, Even From a Guido

My View

When I finished high school in June 1960, I saw three future choices: to attend Philadelphia’s La Salle College (not then a university); pursue a blue-collar job at the huge General Electric plant located in my neighborhood; or what was my first choice, pursue numbers running. The latter meant working in illegal gambling under the direction of Guido, the local “wise guy” bookie.

My top goal was soon derailed. Guido authoritatively reduced my options by demanding I go to college. “For heaven’s sake Joey, you’re one of the first around here to ever get admitted to college, so why would you throw away that opportunity?” Guido argued. “Besides, you’ll be a representative from us people in the real world! You didn’t have no silver spoons growing up so you could be a role model. You could inspire kids from this neighborhood to reach upward. And what a difference you could make as a teacher or a principal for kids who grew up like you did. So forget about running numbers.”

Guido stopped by my house on a steamy summer night, and I filled out my acceptance confirmation from La Salle in front of my mom and dad and Guido and mailed the packet. The three adults were jubilant. I was depressed and felt like I was trapped on a shaky tree limb.