Mickaella and Amanda, from Big Sister Association of Greater Boston

 In summer 2010, Mass Mentoring Partnership, Building Impact and the Red Sox organized a mentor information session at Fenway Park. There, former Little Sister Amanda shared her experience as a Big Sister mentoring Mickaella. Special thanks to Building Impact and Big Sister for allowing us to share this interview that appeared in the Building Impact summer e-newsletter!

Building Impact: Can you tell the story of how you ended up becoming a mentor with Big Sister?

Amanda Martinez: I had a Big Sister when I was younger, and I always wanted to return the favor. When I had moved to Boston, I was looking for a way to help in my surrounding community. Building Impact organized a volunteer fair in my building where I worked and the Big Sister organization had a table in the lobby. It was the perfect opportunity for me to have my questions answered about the program.  

BI: What were you hoping to get out of mentoring when you started?

AM: My goal was to bring a little something extra to the life of a young girl; to share with a girl the same new experiences my Big Sister had shared with me when I was younger.  This experience has brought me more than I could ever imagine.  My Little Sister is an amazing girl.  She faces the everyday challenges of being a young girl of color with gusto.  Her amazing smile makes it all worth while!

BI: What has being a mentor meant to you? Why is it something that is important to do?  

AM: Being a mentor is paying forward the gift that my mentors gave me.  While growing up, I had many mentors who made an amazing impact on my life.  Most often my mentors made a difference by just giving me time. My Big Sister showed me that sometimes a simple walk in the park or a  great conversation is the best way to spend a day.  My high school guidance counselor listened and helped gently guide me through some of the toughest decisions I had to make at that point in my life.  I have been fortunate to have many people who cared enough to share their time and experiences with me.  In some instances, they opened up doors that I wouldn't have had access to in my normal everyday life.   How could I not want to do the same for some one else?

BI: What do you like best about mentoring your Little Sister?

AM: Talking, listening and learning about one another. Through our conversations we have learned to trust one another and that trust has helped guide both of us through an amazing friendship. Sometimes, those conversations happen through her art and poetry. Through these vehicles, my Little Sister has found a way to communicate her feelings in ways in which she may not feel comfortable in day to day conversation.

BI: If someone is inspired by your story and wants to get in touch with Big Sister, what should they do?

AM: Anyone interested in becoming a Big Sister can contact Sheena Collier, manager of recruitment & community partnerships at scollier@bigsister.org, 617.236.8060, or visit www.bigsister.org.

Brandon and Dan, from Taunton Area School to Career (TASC)

Mentee Brandon - who had thought about quitting school prior to joining TASC  - recently graduated from Taunton High School. At the end of last year's program, he thanked his mentor, Dan, at the Mentor Closing Breakfast:

“Most importantly, I want to thank (Dan) for being my mentor throughout this program. Not only has he been a great mentor to me, he has been like a big brother to me.

He has shown me so many possibilities for a successful future and that you have to put in as much effort and work as you possibly can to even have a chance at making your dreams come true.

I have learned that if you put everything you have into something you want, there is a really good chance that you will succeed. The first day I went out on a tour with my mentor, he taught me to never use the phrase, 'I can’t', and told me he would kick me out of the truck if I ever said that again.

He taught me how to present myself with confidence, with simple things like my appearance, eye contact and a firm handshake. 

Before I entered the Mentor Program, I honestly had no interest in going to college, and I really wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do with my life. Since this experience, I now know what I want to do when I am out of high school, and I now have strong feelings of going to college.  The Mentor Program was a very positive and amazing experience for me and has changed my outlook for future success.” 

Justin and Patrick, from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metrowest

Justin, age 13, lives in Worcester and is in eighth grade. He and Patrick were matched in December 2008. The following is Patrick's description of how he became a mentor:

"I am an avid Red Sox fan and have been a card-carrying member of Red Sox Nation since that program started five years ago. I saw a Red Sox TV ad in 2008 and checked out the Red Sox mentoring program information on the Red Sox website.  I sent an e-mail through the site, and I was contacted by Mass Mentoring Partnership to determine my interest in mentoring.

...Eventually, I selected the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, in Worcester (BBBSCM), to explore and determine whether I would have the time and interest in volunteering.  I have had some friends in the past who were mentors in the program, so I was generally familiar with the concept. I also have had some interest in 'paying forward’ in honor of those who took care of me and my siblings during a difficult time when I was young.

I was contacted by BBBSCM, interviewed by a match counselor, received a background check, and then waited to be matched.  I met Justin and his mother in December 2008, and we decided to give it a try. Overall, it had taken five months for the process from initial contact to getting a match.

Early on, my wife and I went to a play in which Justin had a key role, so we quickly started to get an idea of his interests. We started going to sporting events (Red Sox, Worcester Sharks, Celtics), ice skated and sledded at Sturbridge Village and worked to clean brush at my property after the ice storm.  He has spent some time with my children and neighbors. We have some intense video game contests and no clear winner has emerged!

We try to make a commitment to spend some time together very week.  Justin is now evaluating options for high school.  We have learned a lot about each other and from each other and I believe we have both been enriched by the experience.  I’m grateful to his mother for enabling the relationship and to my family for accepting him in our activities."

Tony and Dominic from SMILES/Big Friends Little Friends