Written by Tory Shephard, Relate Contributing Writer

It isn’t easy being a kid these days. In these complex and confusing times, children need a caring person to be a mentor and a friend – someone they can talk to, have fun with and learn from. Unfortunately for many, there is no such companion to draw these experiences from. That is why as soon as I was old enough and felt God calling me to engage my time and energy as a mentor and volunteer, I signed up with the nationally known organization, Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Since that day four and a half years ago, I have established a relationship with my “little sister” Alexa through one-on-one mentoring that takes place in her school for one hour each week. The impression left from these experiences has helped positively shaped both Alexa and I as young women.

Just by paying attention to Alexa, I have learned to enjoy listening and making each moment count. I see that Alexa’s home life has improved and she is producing better Math and reading scores. The memories we have created are unforgettable! A specific time I felt particularly good about volunteering was when Alexa broached the subject of me leaving for college. She said that she loved spending time with me each week and didn’t want me to leave. Words like these, along with the support and affirmation of the match from Alexa’s mother, makes it all worthwhile.

When I think back to that day I met Alexa for the first time, I remember it was not effortless building a lasting friendship. It isn’t the little gifts such as candy bars or piggy back rides, but mostly consistency, a kind spirit and a listening ear that won my “little sister” over. I wanted to help others reach their potential and I could think of nothing better to do with my time than share my life with a little girl. I came to realize that it didn’t matter whether we were running in a gym, telling jokes, doing math problems or sitting quietly reading a novel; the one-on-one time was more precious than anything else I could have been doing. I will forever believe in the power of community service and the direct and measurable impact I have made in Alexa’s life. With the help of BBBS, investing in the life of a child has turned little moments into BIG Magic!

Tags: big brothers big sisters, Faith, faith blog, one-on-one mentoring, teen mentors, teen volunteers