What’s it like to be a “Big” with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) in Whiteside County? If you are like many people, you have heard of BBBS, but you are not sure what it means to become a “Big.” You may know that BBBS adults are mentors to area youth, but that word–mentor–seems a little ambiguous. So, what does it mean to be a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters?
“Bigs” have a few main roles: be a trusted adult friend; have fun; be a positive role model; have fun; be a nurturer of possibilities; have fun. It is easier than you think to make a difference in a child’s life.
Looking back to your childhood, it’s likely that you can think of someone who
- spent one-on-one time with you, doing activities that interested you
- talked to you about goals, friendships, and challenges of being a kid
- exposed you to new things
- encouraged you to build on your strengths.
Together you had fun. A mentor through BBBS does that exact same thing. Being a “Big” means hanging out with a child who wants and needs someone to talk to. It involves sharing experiences and exploring new interests. As you spend time learning about each other, the mentoring happens.
Editor’s note: The following “Big-Little” pairing illustrates the transformative power of a Morrison, IL, match. Six-year-old Daniel Seilhymer is a first grader at Northside School. His sister, Natalie, is ten. On her birthday, last July, their biological father died. The children live with mother Amber, and step-father Clifton, Campbell.
She described her son’s behavior after the loss of his non-custodial father. “Daniel has a bond with his step-father. But the reason we joined the program was Daniel’s [resulting] behavior problems and acting out at school. It has tremendously helped his behavior improve. He is learning more and putting in more effort. There is less fighting. [The weekly attention] has given him a boost of confidence.”
“Big” Superintendent of Schools Scott Vance and “Little” Daniel meet each Friday for lunch. They spend about 30 minutes together, so the boy has time to enjoy recess. This mentorship began “the end of September [2017]. In early December,” Vance said, he and Daniel “attended the BBBS Christmas party in Sterling, IL.” He agreed with the mother that Daniel is “pretty big on LEGO’s and works on them a lot!”
This “Big” and “Little” sometimes work on them together. “It’s pretty awesome!” Vance stated. On Friday, January 12, 2018, Vance walked up to Daniel while carrying a small plastic bag. He immediately had the boy’s attention. “What are you looking for?” asked Vance. “It starts with an L,” replied the boy.
Based on The LEGO® Ninjago® Movie, four of six ninja warriors have been completed so far. “He (Vance) bought them for me. You see the ones we already built? These are the ones I like,” Daniel said, describing the wheeled warriors. He and Vance continued working on a tow-truck as they talked, with Vance asking about his day. “Did you make your marks?” Daniel replied he had. Then he asked, “Big Brother, can you help me?” with the truck assemblage.
Amber Campbell noted Vance stopped before Christmas vacation and exchanged gifts with her son. She and Daniel had made Christmas cookies and candies for Vance.
January is National Mentoring Month. 2018 marks 30 years of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley/Whiteside County creating and supporting quality mentoring relationships, between local adults and youth. One-in-three kids in the United States is growing up without a mentor in their life.
Locally we have over 40 “Bigs,” but more are needed. Within Whiteside County, BBBS has about 15 youth who are waiting to be matched with a mentor, and 70% of those waiting are boys.
To learn more about becoming a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit www.bbbsmv.org, call 815-716-8987, or email dvance@bbbs-mv.org.