LITTLE MOMENTS, BIG MAGIC
Stories and Testimonials
We are proud to share these testimonials from local matches. Check back often to read more comments from our mentors and mentees. To submit a mentor story, please contact Jennifer at info@bbbsofrc.com , or call us at 845-634-2199, ext 3.
Stories from Our Mentors
Julie has been a Big Sister for four years:
I started mentoring Tiffany when she was 10 years old. I have had the pleasure of watching her change and grow from a shy, uncertain 10 year old into a confident and poised 14 year old, ready to take on the world. Academically, she has gone from being a B/C student to an A/B student who is enrolled in two honors classes. She has become more assertive and outgoing though she is still shy and unsure of herself in new situations and around new people. She has started setting short and long term goals for herself and views herself as capable of meeting them. She is caring and protective of her family and not at all self-absorbed or frivolous like many teenagers her age.
Our relationship has evolved as well. I had to do most of the talking and come up with ideas of what to do and where to go. She would only answer questions and not initiate conversation. Now, however, she and I can converse easily on a variety of topics from the war, to school, to my family, etc. For the past two years she has sought my assistance and guidance with school work and choice of classes. She is concerned about doing well and attending a competitive college.
-Julie (Big Sister)
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I write this letter to express how very happy we are about our experience with the Family Partnership Program of BBBS of RC. Since early this year, my husband and I (along with my thirteen year old son) have been spending time as a family with Richie and Darnel, who are brothers. Having been a ˇ§bigˇ¨ on my own previously, it has been great to see my husband and son get involved as well.
As a family, I believe we are better able to meet the needs of two boys together. My husband and son handle the rough-house playing (which almost all boys enjoy but is very difficult for me) while I plan the more ˇ§culturalˇ¨ activities and meals. Having all of us working together has enriched our times with Richie and Darnel and, I believe, allowed the boys to experience more variety of activity, thus expanding their horizons even further.
My family has benefited from our time together with Richie and Darnel. I am pleased that at the age of thirteen, my son is not only learning the value of reaching out and giving of himself to others, he is being exposed to friends of a different cultural background. I consider that to be very valuable. As the ˇ§older boy,ˇ¨ my son has helped and taught Richie and Darnel, and they have helped and taught him right back.
I consider my family lucky to be able to spend time together as a family mentoring two great boys. It has brought us together with a sense of purpose. My son even comes up with ideas for activities which we can all enjoy together.
I am glad that my mentoring experience has progressed to include my husband and son. I believe all of our experiences have been enriched by approaching the mentor / mentee relationship from this perspective.
Terri (Family Partnership)
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Lauren is a volunteer mentor (Big) in one of our longest serving matches (almost eight years):
Volunteering for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program of Rockland County has been a life-altering experience for me. I started the program seven years ago … Read more…
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From time to time, we ask our mentors for feedback, with questions like this one to Bob (mentor):
Question: Could you send us an email telling me how things are going between you and Kenny? We have to document how the match is going after the first two weeks and once a month thereafter.
It's been going well. Last Saturday I brought him over to the house and we fixed his bicycle. I showed him what to do and how to use the tools … Read more…
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My 3 plus years with Anthony have been very fulfilling. He is a great kid and pleasure to be around. I've watched him grow from a shy 11 year old to a now more confident 14 year old… Read more…
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I just received an invitation in the mail for the March 14 th Mentor Meeting. I have been meaning for some time now to express how truly impressed I am… Read more…
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My Little and I first met on a cold, dark evening in January. Our relationship developed slowly. We were both new to the program and not sure what to expect … Read more...
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Dear Prospective Big Brothers/Sisters,
I became a Big Brother for a few different reasons. Firstly, being the youngest in my family I always wanted a younger sibling. Secondly, I believe it is important … Read more…
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Letters from Our Mentees
Dear BBBS of RC,
I am writing you this letter to let you know how much I appreciate my Big Brother Charlie. Charlie has been someone who I can look up to and I enjoy his company a lot. In fact, meeting with him every Saturday is about the only fun thing that I look forward to each week. Charlie is very dependable and is always on time. We go to the movies, and places at the Palisades Mall and eat out…And just hang out together sometimes. I have also appreciated the encouragement and support that he gives me. In closing, I would have to say that my life has been much better with Charlie my BB in it. Thank-you.
-Neil (Little Brother)
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Dear BBBS organization,
Bravo! on a wonderful job at Dave & Busters! Thank you very much for all of my gifts, I had a wonderful time and appreciate it. Everyone that was there had a good time and you brought, actually you bring so much joy and happiness to so many people's lives. That is a gift, a gift that very few people have, and that is something to be very proud of.
-David (Little Brother)
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Matt: An Inspiration to Me
By: Vincent (Little Brother)
A couple of years ago I was miserable and without a friend in the world. I desperately needed someone to reach out to. Someone who I could talk about things with, things I wouldn't be able to talk to about with anyone else. Then after six months of waiting in moan I got my big brother Matt. From then on in my life changed enormously.
My big brother Matt made a tremendous difference in my life in an immense way. I made a new friend and a mentor, someone I can look up to and have faith in. My big brother Matt has made an impact in the way I act towards people and society. I'm now no longer gloomy and without help. I'm in high spirits and cheerful. I improved in my schooling as well as in my life: because of him I have changed as a person. I'm now healthier in every aspect of life.
Matt means the world to me. I would never trade him for anything. He and his family are a home away from home for me. Matt and his family are family to me. I'm closer to him then any of my family members, excluding my mother and grandparents. We do everything together. I will love him and his family until the day I breathe my last breath.
I have built a constructive relationship with my big brother Matt by always being with him every chance I get We are both one hundred and ten percent involved with each other's lives. We are together on a regular basis. We're together on regular days, holidays, and birthdays, any day we get a chance to hang out. Matt and I have never had a problem. We have always treated each other equally with respect and as equal and will from now until the end of time. We will always be together.
In conclusion having a big brother is a privilege to me, a privilege that I'm honored to have. If I didn't have my big brother I don't think I'd be where I would be today. I'd be in a lot of nuisance but instead I'm doing truly well because of my big brother Matt.
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Dear Big Brothers/Big Sisters,
I'm very glad and happy to be part of this program. It has showed me more responsibility. I'm able to show my feelings and be open-minded. I try to get along with all different kinds of people. My Big Sister, Margaret always reminds me to have good manners and be kind to everybody, the same way I would like to be treated. I have learned more about my schoolwork. When I have questions to be answered she is always able to answer me. I have a computer. I look forward to meeting with her every weekend. We do all different kinds of things together. For example I have never had been horseback riding until I met her. Plus we went to see beautiful plays I never even heard of. We go see movies we both enjoy. I also enjoy meeting her family. Since she feels like she is part of my family. She explains to me how important life is and to always try to do my best in school so I can get a good job/career. She also taught me to be grateful for what I have because other people wish they had what I have. So far I have more friends. Since now I learned to listen and understand before getting angry. So thank you very much for this opportunity to write this letter. I have learned through this letter to really understand what it is a Big Brother/Big Sister program is all about.
-Awilda (Little Sister)
Call us at 845-634-2199
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