thePULSEBy Tim Harrington
I became a Big Brother in Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS) without considering how profoundly rewarding the experience could possibly be. My Sign Language class required that I participate in a community-based-learning project and I arbitrarily selected BBBS. Months later, now that I know my Little Brother well, I feel fortunate that I stumbled into the program. Because of BBBS, I understand how it feels to be needed for the positive influence I can provide for a younger individual in just a few short months.
The last time I saw my Little Brother, I had just brought him to the College of the Holy Cross field day ~ an event coordinated by the college and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America as an end-of-year celebration of the bonds we’d all made. He was on crutches so, rather than playing sports, we sat on the grass, ate pizza and talked. It was there that I learned about his improved grades and his new aspirations to go to college. As the day came to a close, I walked him to his ride home and I offered him a high five. After slapping my hand, there was a thoughtful pause before he asked, as if completing a fragment in his head, “…and you’ll be my Big Brother next year, right?” Suddenly, there was no question as to whether or not to continue volunteering into my senior year. I knew then that the connection we had made was far too important to abandon. Without hesitation, I replied, “You bet, bud.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the oldest and largest mentoring project in the country. For just over a century, the incorporation has been reviewing volunteers via interview and application to appropriately and safely match them with children (ages 6-18) who, in some way, need guidance. The mission was established in 1904 when New York City court clerk Ernest Coulter, noticed a disturbingly high number of youths passing through the New York court system. To help these children, he created a network of positive interaction between the young people and those who wanted to help them.
I can attest from personal experience that this human-to-human contact is the enduring essence of Big Brothers Big Sisters ~ and why everyone should get involved. When I first met my “little,” I quickly learned that I, the “mentor,” was being guided and taught by the example of my 13-year-old Little Brother’s compassion, caring, consideration and resilience. To me, it is no wonder the program is now in all 50 states and in 12 countries.
To sign up for Big Brothers Big Sisters, simply go to the website (www.bbbs.org), click “Volunteering,” and follow the provided directions. Once you have submitted the application, a BBBS representative will contact you, perform a background check, and arrange an interview. Based on all of these quite thorough steps, you will receive a “little” who is well-suited to your abilities and interests.
While the website advertises that “Volunteering just 4 hours a month can change a young person’s life,” I would like to add that once you start you won’t want to stop ~ and your life will be changed, too.
I’m so glad that Tim decided to share this story. Even though I work for Big Brothers Big Sisters and volunteer as a Big Sister myself, it always touches me to hear how the experience has affected others. It’s especially wonderful to hear this from a Big Brother since every Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the U. S. has a waiting list of little boys waiting for Big Brothers. Some of those little boys have been on the waiting list for two years and more. Please share this story with all the men in your lives. We need more Big Brothers like Tim.
This is a wonderful story. I have volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters for almost a year now, and it is one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I have learned so much from my Little Brother, and, while he doesn’t talk at length about how this relationship has affected him, the big smile I see on his face everytime we meet up says it all.