An intervention program was implemented to reduce absences, stimulate responsibility for assignments, and increase participation in extracurricular activities among disengaged ninth-grade students (N=18). Older students served as role models and peer mentors as they sought to establish that freshmen could control their own success or failure in the high school setting. Five intensive after-school workshops trained volunteer 11th-grade students (N=20) to serve as peer counselors. Emphasis was placed on a positive attitude toward helping others and on confidentially. Skills presented were basic counseling skills, active listening, effective message sending, values clarification, decision making, and goal setting. Mentors met assigned target students for lunch and talked with them on the telephone for the 3-month implementation period. The objectives of 98% average daily attendance, 100% participation in extracurricular activities, and 90% of the target group's classes showing no zeroes in teacher grade books were not achieved. Positive outcomes were much improved attendance and grades for 12 of the 18 targeted freshmen and improved grades among the mentor group. Freshman participants expressed an increased awareness of their ability to control their grades and of the value of involvement in the school community. Mentors felt the greatest benefits were showing disengaged students that someone cares and that if attitudes toward school could be improved needless failures and dropouts could be prevented. (Author/ABL)