NATCHEZ &8212; Eight retired teachers want to change the way students at Central Alternative School look at life.

The mentors, all members of the National Coalition for 100 Black Women, visit each week, sometimes more, to check in on their students.

&8220;We are trying to get them to realize that behavior is a deterrent to them,&8221; said Hilda Little, program chairman. &8220;It keeps them from going forward.&8221;

Each of the mentors is assigned a female student to form a relationship with. Typically they visit during non-academic class periods, like PE.

&8220;We want to foster a positive self-image,&8221; Little said. &8220;I am somebody, I&8217;m going to be somebody.&8221;

But the first hurdle to jump with most of the students is attitude, she said. Students at Central have been removed from one of the other schools for repeated behavior problems.

&8220;(We stress) attitude and the approach to every day actions and being obedient,&8221; mentor Mildred Gramble said. &8220;It&8217;s all about your attitude and the way you look at life.&8221;

The mentors use stories from their childhoods to show the students just how privileged children are today.

&8220;It wasn&8217;t easy for me,&8221; Little said. &8220;And it&8217;s not going to be easy for you all the time at home.&8221;

The mentors also ask them about their grades, their behavior in class and help with homework if needed.

Some of the girls in the program have no academic problems, Little said, but behavior gets in the way.

Seventh-grader Candice Walker said she appreciates the relationship she has with her mentor.

&8220;We can talk to them about stuff that you probably couldn&8217;t tell anyone else,&8221; Walker said. &8220;And they help us understand that life is not a game.&8221;

The mentoring program was started by the coalition five years ago. Different students are chosen by the principal and counselors to participate each year.

The goal is to get the girls back into regular school, something Gramble said they&8217;ve seen happen.

&8220;We see changes in their attitudes over a period of time,&8221; Gramble said.

But they also see failures, little said.

&8220;It makes us very sad when we come over here and our girl has been suspended,&8221; she said.

The coalition sponsored a Christmas banquet for the girls at the Eola Hotel this year, and attended a Thanksgiving lunch at the school in the fall.