When Rhodes Scholar, White House Fellow and entrepreneur Wes Moore opened the newspaper one day, a familiar name jumped out at him — his own. This Wes Moore, however, was convicted of murder and would serve a life sentence without possibility of parole.

Taken aback by the similar circumstances of their upbringing — both were brought up by single widowed mothers mere blocks from each other — Moore dove into their parallel lives and wrote a New York Times bestselling book, “The Other Wes Moore.”

Moore will discuss the discoveries that formed his book at the Black History Month assembly Feb. 19.

“I just remember reading his book and being so blown away, it was just so fascinating to me,” Black Leadership and Culture Club adviser Janiece Richard said.

“The Other Wes Moore” explores how both your own decisions and the decisions others make for you can change your life and other people’s lives, Richard said. She said she hoped Moore, whom she heard at a conference in January, would deliver a “take-home message” that students, faculty and administration could all relate to.

“I feel like there’s something we can all relate to, some aspect of his life or story, so what it all boils down to is that we’re all the same and that we really decide where our lives go based on the decisions that we make and that other people make for us,” Richard said. “Our decisions have a powerful impact on our life. I know that sounds corny but it’s true. This is a perfect example of that.”

Students will be able to buy and get copies of Moore’s book signed at a reception after the assembly, which will follow Special Schedule C.