Big Sister Rachel and Little Sister Zendayah
Meet Big Sister Rachel and Little Sister Zendayah, who have been matched for 4 years now!
The pair first met in February 2022 through the Community-based program and have been swimming, petting puppies, and being there for each other ever since.
Rachel first learned about Big Brothers Big Sisters during her time at Do it Best, a longtime Big Impact Partner of the agency. When a BBBS staff member presented on the programs, it seemed like another great way to support youth, as she already served on the board for Camp Watcha-Wanna-Do. Her coworker got involved in School Buddies, which prompted Rachel to join the Community-based program.
Despite her shyness about meeting someone new, Zendayah couldn’t wait to finally get matched! There were all sorts of new adventures she imagined them going on, and there’s nothing better than making a new friend. Rachel and Zendayah’s shared love of animals, especially dogs like golden retrievers, gave them a great place to start when getting to know each other. Their first outing to Uncle Bill’s Pet Store to pet puppies was one for the books. However, Zendayah remained a bit reserved.
Rachel was unsure of what her quiet Little thought of their match, but she let Zendayah open up in her own time. They’d whip up tasty treats together and create some of their favorite match memories—like when they got together before Christmas to make Rolo-pretzel snacks. This duo can always count on having a good time together, especially if it involves one of their favorite activities: the BBBS Cupcakes and Canvas match activity, swimming at the YMCA, or petting puppies at Uncle Bill’s.
With such a patient mentor, Zendayah is proud to share all the new things she’s learned from her Big Sister. Rachel, a photographer, took her to a park for a first-time lesson on how to work a camera. Her Big Sister also used to be a swim instructor, giving Zendayah the perfect one-on-one coach for learning to swim underwater. After 3 summers in a row of trying, Zendayah came out victorious, finally sticking her head underwater! This summer, they hope to continue practicing this new skill together. Just like their steady-growing friendship, the best things take time!
Zendayah knows she’ll never leave their outings without funny stories to look back on, especially their summertime pool adventures. Last year’s Halloween trick-or-treat outing was also a favorite of hers, especially getting to dress as Hermione from Harry Potter, so she’s excited to go again this year. For Rachel, the best part of being matched is giving a child a bit of “childhood magic,” whether it’s a unique Christmas gift or a brand-new experience.
“She's so quiet, and I just don't push her. I just let her be where she's at. Now that I've done that, she's opened up, and I'm always there for her,” said Rachel, who believes patience is key to a great match and friendship.
Over the last 4 years, Zendayah has grown up in front of Rachel’s eyes, more talkative and sharing than ever before. Consistently spending time together fostered a sense of trust between the two.
“Having a Big has helped me express my feelings sometimes. If kids have no siblings or no one to hang out with, it would be a good thing for them to have a Big, so they have someone to hang out with,” said Zendayah.
Even-keeled and reliable, Rachel is always there to lend Zendayah a supportive listening ear. Having grown up with similar family dynamics makes her a relatable mentor and positive role model.
“She makes me laugh a lot, and sometimes when I feel overwhelmed, I talk to her a lot,” said Zendayah.
“She can just talk to me about anything, and I'm always a call away if she ever needs me to come get her or someone to talk to. I hope she knows that she can lean on me… that I'm not going anywhere,” said Rachel.
Rachel tries to show Zendayah what life could be, like the kinds of jobs she could explore and hobbies she could get into. Just as her own role models did for her, this Big Sister tries to uplift Zendayah’s dreams so she can be successful, remembering how much of a dreamer she was growing up.
“Even though we're not blood-related, she still feels like a sister to me,” said Zendayah.
“I really couldn’t imagine not having her in my life. I think Big Brothers Big Sisters did great for the both of us,” said Rachel. “I'm excited to see where she's at in a few years, where we're at, and it's been overall great.”
Be Big!
Mentorship can be simple yet transformative. It doesn’t need to be a huge addition to your life, but it can make a BIG difference to someone else. Zendayah believes any kid who just wants an extra friend to talk to or hang out with would benefit from having a Big Brother or Big Sister. Rachel agrees, encouraging others to get involved in their community.
“It's important for everyone to do something for their community, and this is the next generation. So I don’t know why you wouldn't get involved and put your time, effort, and love into that next generation. You surprisingly get a lot out of it as well,” Rachel explained.
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