What is a Big Brother Big Sister?
Think
back to when you were a kid. Who was the person, other than a parent,
who brought a little magic into your life, just by being there? By
becoming a Big Brother or Big Sister, you can be that person in the
life of a child. And you will build treasured memories through a
friendship that will change your life, and a child's, forever.
Being
a Big is something anyone can do; the only requirements are a
willingness to be a friend, to have fun, and to see the world (and
yourself) through the eyes of a young person. Most Bigs are adults of
any age, but we also have programs for high school and college students.
As
a Big, you and your Little will do everyday activities like playing
sports, seeing a movie, cooking, going over schoolwork, visiting a
museum, washing the car, taking a walk, volunteering in their
community, or just hanging out. And as in any friendship, it is the
spontaneous, small moments of shared fun or discovery that you will
remember forever. That is the magic a Big brings to the life of a
child-and that a Little brings to the life of a Big.
A
Big Brother or Big Sister can open a world of possibilities and
opportunities for a young person simply by being a genuine friend. Our
Bigs consistently say that they get even more out of their friendship
than the Littles, and our Littles grow into adults who want to be
involved themselves and help another child.
You can make a difference!
A Now Grown "Little Sister" Reflects -
My
life was different and difficult from any other young eleven year old.
Before joining Big Brothers, I was faced with learning all the
responsibilities of an adult, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, and
caring for my younger brothers. Coming from a single parent home it
wasn't easy. Due to moms illness, I had no choice but to be head of the
household when I was still just a child. When mom signed me up with Big
Brother Big Sisters, I had no idea what it was all about. A young woman
would come to see me about once a week, maybe twice a week if she could.
This
young lady became my Big sister, My mentor. My Big Sister always
encouraged me to stay in school and achieve. Little by little she
helped me realize my own personal goals. As time went by, I found her
to be my escape from who I really was. Maybe it is difficult to
understand but she was my get away from all the pressure and demands I
was getting at home. I was relieved to see her once a week. She gave me
back my childhood.
To
her, it probably wasn't a big deal to go out for an hour, maybe get a
bite to eat and talk. To me, it was an escape-getting away from
everyone. In the long run, my Big Sister showed me that the world is
not that bad after all. She taught me that I could accomplish anything
I wanted to accomplish. All I know is that I will treasure my Big
Sister for the rest of my life. I was fortunate to have her be an
exceptional volunteer who offered me her time, loving support and
friendship for five years. We are now sisters for a lifetime.
My
life would not have changed if I had not belonged to an organization
like Big Brothers Big Sisters, an agency fully dedicated to their
mission. My Big Sister and I are now separated by miles, but we keep in
touch. We continue to share our joys and need's in life. She will
always be my "Big Sister" and I her "Little Sister". I know, even as an
adult, I can always count on getting the support I need from Big
Brothers Big Sisters to continue to listen, continue to care and be a
place to rest my thoughts through the passages of my life. Childhood only happens once!
 
For more information on becoming a volunteer, please give us a call at any of our branch offices, or send an email to bbbs@dutchessCAP.org. Take the first step, you'll be amazed!
View our quarterly Volunteer Newsletter
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