We are thrilled to welcome new match, Izzy and Amanda, to Big Brothers Big Sisters! Izzy and Amanda were just matched in May and are quickly becoming great friends! Read below for some things Big, Amanda, had to say about her experience so far. Why did you decide to volunteer as a Big? I have wanted to become a Big for about ten years, but I was waiting for a time when I felt like I could commit long-term. Previously, I mentored students in a 1:1 in-school reading program for four years which ended abruptly due to Covid. As life stabilized, I wanted to get back to making an impact in my local community, and revisited the idea of BBBS. I felt BBBS was the right mentoring program for me because I figured I could offer perspective and understanding to a Little who might be going through what I did as a kid, and help expose them to new experiences. After a lot of careful consideration through the interview process, though I knew this experience could be challenging, it was still a personal goal. So I took the leap to get matched! What are you and Izzy's favorite activity to do together thus far? We start every meet up with cans of seltzer and cookies to share. We play card and board games, look through the Audobon book of North American birds, and do crafts. Do you have any fun things planned to do together this summer? We're planning to visit an aquarium this summer. It's on her summer bucket list! Anything else you'd like to share? I've always felt that you can learn from every person who enters your life, whether they're around for five minutes or five years. This endeavor was meant to have a positive impact on a child, but also to help me learn and grow into myself, too. Spending time with Izzy is impacting me in ways I couldn't imagine until I matched with her. |