JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -

There's a program at a Duval County middle school that's aimed at trying to help struggling students.

The program helps kids at Title One schools, which are schools that receive special funding to help low-income students.

Achievers for Life is sponsored by the United Way but put on by communities in schools of Jacksonville, to help prevent students from dropping out.

At Jefferson Davis Middle School, 75 6th graders enter the program every year.

"Everyone wants someone to care about them," student advocate Tan Mayhew said. "Every student wants to succeed and they'll see that little help we give makes a difference in their grades. Now instead of me looking for them, they come looking for me."

As a student advocate at Jefferson Davis Elementary, Mayhew works with students who are struggling in school with things like attendance and grades.

"I like to refer to myself as a mom away from home," Tan said. "Because the teachers know I'm right here on campus and if my kids have any problems, they give me a call. I'm in the classroom within 5 minutes."

Achievers for Life identifies at risk students as they enter middle school from 5th grade and works one on one with them to help them improve in the areas they're struggling.

"I don't like History so as they pulled me out of Social Studies," 7th grader Maqqela Hisrael Rice said. "I actually had a D in Social Studies but then as I went to Achievers for Life, I brought up that D to a C and as I was going I got that C to an A."

"When I had C's and D's, she pulled me out of my elective," 8th grader Christina Cummings said. "I did make up work and the next nine weeks, I had A/B honor roll."

Both of these students, now in 7th and 8th grade, have significantly improved their grades since starting middle school and they credit Achievers for Life.

Although hesitant about the program at first, both students say they now credit it for all of their success.

"Just let him know that I'm not going anywhere," Mayhew said. "They're so used to people turning away and getting discouraged and I let them know from the beginning, Im here I'm not going anywhere. We're going to get through this."