Remembering the First Day

By Jenica B., Big Sister, University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2009

As I said good-bye to my Little Sister Kaira for the holidays, I realized how much fun it has been over the past semester. The puppet shows of unrecognizable animals announcing their names and immediately wrestling each other; our desperate attempts to figure out how to play Yatzee leaning how to conquer the monkey bars; and our favorite game: Guess Who Challenge, where we challenge the other Bigs in a match of wits. On that first day, I never realized how great my experience as a Big would be.

I remember walking to the Powell School not knowing what to expect. I remember thinking the kids might not want us there or what if the community doesn’t accept me? What if my Little and I have nothing to talk about or what if other kids pick on her and I have to defend her?

I saw the Powell School in the distance. I was 20 minutes early – talk about over-eager! I sat outside the school listening to my iPod. While waiting for the other Bigs to arrive I thought to myself that if I didn’t know what to do, I could just follow them and watch what they do. While waiting, Tory and my other friend James came around the corner! I had no clue they were Bigs! In fact, since my first day, I have met so many new friends on my walks back and forth. We all went inside and all the teachers were so friendly. A BBBS representative introduced herself to me and explained the sign-in process and then we waited for the Littles to arrive.

The Bigs were weeded off the walls one by one. Leaving me behind, looking at each little girl for who my Little could be! She came up to me, waved and said very excitedly, “Hi!” Then, the very next words out of her mouth were, “So, can you come on Mondays AND Wednesdays AND Fridays?”

What surprised me most was how excited every single kid was about getting matched to a Big. Everyone wanted one! And all the other kids love to talk to me during lunch too. On that first day knew I had entered into a great program, and have loved it ever since!