Stretch yourself.

Choose friends wisely.

Develop interests and hobbies, and always put forth your best effort.

Suffolk Public Schools Superintendent Deran Whitney shared those tips Wednesday with The Association, a mentoring group of 30 fourth- and-fifth-grade students at Creekside Elementary School.

“Make good choices … because people will judge you by the company you keep,” Whitney said. He urged the kids to pick friends who have a positive influence on their lives and to stand up to peer pressure.

Set goals and push yourself to achieve them, he said.

“Work hard and listen,” Whitney said. “If you don’t put forth your best effort, you may miss out on an opportunity.

“Try new things because that is how you will grow and develop,” he said.

Creekside Coach Erik Johnson started The Association last year to help members develop leadership qualities.

Johnson and his team of volunteer male mentors meet with the students weekly. Mentors include A.J. Hicks, a guidance counselor from the Suffolk Family YMCA; Brian Williams, head of food and nutrition services for the school division; and Darrell Flythe, an operations manager at Target.

With so few male elementary school teachers, it’s hard for young men to find male role models in school, said Johnson.

Students meet over lunch and leave with “homework assignments” designed to build character, he said.

Because of those assignments, students said they have become more mindful of helping others. One helped a friend with his baseball swing. Others said are helping younger siblings with homework and picking up around the house more.

“The Association has changed me,” said 10-year-old Talan Bell. “I’m doing more to help at home.”

Fifth-grader Bryson Barber agreed, saying it is helping prepare members for the future.

“When we are grown, we will be ready for what lies ahead,” he said.

Johnson wants to make a difference in the students’ lives. He plans to invite former members back every year to annual reunion picnics.

“We care and want to make a difference in these guys’ lives,” said Johnson. “Down the road, we want these students to remember us.”