A New Beginning

By Laura S., Big Sister, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2008

One of the many, many, reasons that I am sad to be graduating this spring is that I will no longer be matched with my Little Sister, Brianna. I will be leaving Philadelphia for at least the next few years, and won’t even be able to switch our match from the School Based Program to the Community Based Program. I truly wish that I could continue our match for a variety of reasons, but a major one is that in the next few years, Brianna will be starting a new part of her life. She will be entering middle school soon, and with that come a lot of changes. Right now, her biggest concern is to not get knocked out in a game of four square. But that’s not going to last much longer. I feel that if I could stay matched with her during this time in her life, it would make her transition easier. Even with all kinds of changes happening to her, our match would be one of the few constant things. I know that we will exchange emails, and I will always be there for her if she needs anything, but our relationship will inevitably change. I’m pretty sure that she will request a new Big once I graduate, since we’ve both had such a good experience with Big Brothers Big Sisters - I just hope that her next match becomes as strong as ours.

Brianna is one of the sweetest and silliest girls that I have ever met. She is always so respectful to her peers and to me, but at the same time she is able to goof around and have a good time. I definitely do not want these parts of her personality to disappear. I know that when I was in middle school, I suddenly became very aware of what my classmates thought of me, and hid some of my own personality until I regained my confidence. Hopefully she won’t have this same experience. I just feel that if I was in Philadelphia for a few more years, I could help her with whatever challenges come her way. But I know that Brianna has a caring family and a good set of friends, so she is fortunate to have people around her who want her to succeed and who will definitely help her in the next few years.

Taking a Study Break

By Laura S., Big Sister, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2008

One of the best parts about Big Brothers Big Sisters is that the program is so easy to fit into a college schedule, and yet each college student still has the opportunity to make a huge difference in the life of a child. Every student at Penn is busy. Whether it’s studying, playing a sport, attending a meeting or interviewing for a job, Penn students have something going on all the time. Sometimes we just need a break from the stress that comes with our hectic schedules. That’s why Big Brothers Big Sisters is so great! Yes, we are always running around campus, but a program that only requires a one hour a week time commitment can definitely fit into even the busiest schedule. And that one hour a week that you spend as a Big is one of the least stressful and most enjoyable times that you could possibly have. Being a Big is a chance to just let go and act like a kid again. You can spend that hour running around the playground, working on an art project, or playing a board game - all while laughing and joking around with a child.
I can honestly say that there have been days when I really needed to study for an upcoming exam, and I don’t feel like I can squeeze in my visit to see my Little sister. However, I make the time to go see her, knowing that if I don’t show up, she will be disappointed. Once I’m there though, I don’t doubt my decision at all. I always have so much fun with her that I forget about all the work that I have to do. And as I head home on the van, I feel I’m able to start studying, because I’m more relaxed and happier than I would have otherwise been.

The First Meeting

By Laura S., Big Sister, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2008

This past week, I helped to introduce a Big and a Little to each other for the first time. Both the Big and Little were so excited and so nervous to meet each other, and I couldn’t help but remember that I felt the same way the first time that I met my Little, Brianna. I think that the first time you enter into any new situation you can’t help but to be scared of the unknown. No matter how excited you are about starting a new activity or situation, not knowing what to expect is extremely intimidating.

When I first went to CPA to meet Brianna, I had so many thoughts flying through my head. I was worried that Brianna would be really shy, and I wouldn’t be able to get her to talk. I was worried that Brianna wouldn’t like me, and we wouldn’t have anything in common. I was worried that it would be an awkward experience, and that I wouldn’t be able to develop a relationship with Brianna. I’ve learned though that these worries are completely natural. I was a twenty year old college student when I was matched to Brianna, and I hadn’t been around nine year olds in a long time. Although I was extremely nervous, I was so excited for the potential that our relationship could have. I really wanted to become friends with Brianna, make a difference in her life, and for her to make a difference in my life.

Looking back on that first day, I find it almost funny that I was so worried. Brianna is a wonderful girl, and over the past year, our relationship has developed into something wonderful. I should not have been intimidated by this new experience. Even though there are many years and experiences between us, I realize now that two people are almost guaranteed to have a great relationship if both of them want it. And we both definitely did. I am so happy that even though I was scared on that first day, I overcame my fears and tried something new that has proven time and time again to be one of the most fulfilling activities in which I have ever been involved.

Making a Difference at PENN

By Laura S., Big Sister, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2008

I am so excited about the enthusiasm I’ve witnessed from Penn students about BBBS. Over the past few weeks, I have had so many of my friends and acquaintances approach me to find out how they can get involved. It’s happened everywhere and at the most random times - in class, at a Halloween party, on Locust Walk and in Houston Hall just to name a few of the places.
We’ve also seen a tremendous growth in the number of people who have signed up to be Bigs. It is so inspiring to know that there are so many other students at Penn who want to make a difference and have a positive impact on a child’s life. Sometimes it can be discouraging when all I hear about at Penn is going out at night, relationships, and jobs that make a lot of money. But then when I see how many people want to be involved in organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, I’m reminded that there are a great number of Penn students who care. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a program that is proven to work, and with so many eager Penn students volunteering as Bigs, the impact that the Penn community can have on children in West Philadelphia is enormous. Hopefully the BBBS program at Penn will continue to see this type of growth, and both the lives of Penn students and West Philadelphia children will be better for it.

A New Direction with My Little Sister

By Laura S., Big Sister, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2008

Since I started volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, I’ve known that I was making some sort of a difference in my Little Brianna’s life. Every time that I go to CPA, she greets me with a huge smile and hug. She emails me every now and then to update me on her life. Her friends also tell me that Brianna is really excited that I came to visit her. And during the hour a week that I spend with her, Brianna and I always have a great time playing together. Through all of this, I’ve always been pleased with my relationship with Brianna. I felt as though Brianna and I were both getting something out of my weekly visits to CPA.

Last week, though, our relationship moved to a new level. I actually felt like I wasn’t just Brianna’s older friend, but her Big Sister. For the first time, Brianna’s friends were not at CPA. We finally had one-on-one time with no distractions from her friends trying to talk to the two of us or asking to participate in whatever game we were playing. For a whole hour, it was just Brianna and me. We decided to weave on a loom – (a lot harder than it looks!). Once we got the hang of it, weaving was such a mindless activity that Brianna and I were able to really bond and connect in a way that we had never done before. We finally had a real conversation about her thoughts and feelings, and we both got to know each other in a more meaningful way. A smile never left my face for the rest of the day. And since last Friday, I’ve kept smiling. Brianna has sent me emails on a daily basis saying how excited she is for this week and how she can’t wait to see me. I am so thrilled with the direction in which our relationship is going, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Choose to do Something for the Good of Others

By Laura S., Big Sister, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2008

Being a Big has truly changed my college experience for the better. Going to CPA every week is such a welcome escape from Penn. Penn can feel like such a bubble sometimes, and knowing that I have a purpose off campus helps to remind me that there is a world outside of Penn. Seeing my Little Brianna’s smile when I arrive at her afterschool program makes me forget about all the homework, papers, and tests that I have waiting for me back at my house. The hour I spend with her running around the playground, tackling computer games, or painting pictures is one of the most relaxing, fun hours of my week. It’s so refreshing to be around a little girl who wants to talk about four square and spelling tests rather than job applications and LSATs. I wouldn’t trade my hour with Brianna for anything.

Being a mentor for a young girl and realizing the impact that I’ve had on her life, has made me reevaluate what I want to do after I graduate. I really feel as if I have made a difference in Brianna’s life, and knowing that is so fulfilling. Whatever job I end up having after I graduate, I know that I want it to directly affect others in a positive way. Brianna has learned a lot from me, but at the same time I have learned so much from her, and I feel as though my own life, as well as the lives of people in need, will be better off if I choose to do something for the good of others.

By Laura S., Big Sister, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2008

Last Friday was my first time meeting with my Little Sister, Brianna since April. I was so excited to go back to the Caring People Alliance (CPA) and hang out with her, especially since she had emailed me saying that Friday was her birthday! However, I was also pretty nervous. Five months is a long time for a ten year old! What if she forgot what I looked like or didn’t really care that I was coming to see her? We had emailed a few times over the summer, but there’s always that chance that she had changed or I had changed, and we would no longer be a good match. Fortunately this was not the case! As soon as I walked into the Big Brothers Big Sisters room, I heard a very loud, “Laura!!!!!,” from across the room. Brianna sprinted towards me and gave me a huge hug.

We instantly started talking about our summers, how our school years are going, and just basically catching up. I had really missed her and BBBS in general. I had forgotten how much fun it is to play like a little kid for an hour. I had forgotten how good it makes me feel when Brianna smiles. I had forgotten how wonderful of a little girl Brianna is. In the first few minutes that I was back at CPA, I remembered all of those things and why I love going to see her each week.

I had brought Brianna a few small presents for her birthday and made her a card, which she loved! She kept asking her friends if they had seen what I had brought for her, and she just walked around with a huge smile on her face. To see her so happy was just an awesome experience. For the rest of the hour, we played with this weird foam made up of tiny dots that you can mold into any shape you want. I really wish that foam existed when I was little – it was so cool to play with! Brianna and I both love arts and crafts, so the hour just flew by as we goofed around making funny objects out of the foam.

All in all, it was a great day, and I am so glad that the program has started up again!