The story
A man walks a beach covered with stranded starfish and sees someone throwing them back into the sea. "There are thousands," he says. "You can't make a difference." The thrower picks up another, throws it in, and replies, "It made a difference to that one."
The popular version is adapted from Loren Eiseley's 1969 essay The Star Thrower.
For mentors and teachers
Large problems — unemployment, wrong career choices, lack of guidance — can feel overwhelming. Each student you help still matters.
For anyone
Small, consistent acts of help add up across a lifetime.
Deciding whether it fits you
A field can look exciting from the outside and still be a poor fit. Before committing, talk to two or three people already doing the work, try a short course or project, and notice whether the day-to-day tasks energise or drain you. A structured conversation with a mentor can help you compare options against your interests, abilities and values rather than trends alone.