Big Brother Andy and Little Brother Diego

Big Brother Andy and Little Brother Diego

Big Brother Andy has been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters for the past 40 years, first getting involved while he was a medical student. Life back then was “study, study, study,” and the aspiring doctor needed an outlet to give his time to beyond university. He applied to Big Brothers Big Sisters in Indianapolis around the same time and hasn’t looked back. Each Little he’s been matched with has been cool, funny, and engaging, including his current match with Little Brother Diego.

Diego’s older sister is a former Little Sister, and she remains involved even past her graduation from the program, so Diego already knew a lot about the agency. When he was matched with Andy, he was a little intimidated by his new Big Brother, a reputable doctor and long-time volunteer.

However, the last two years, filled with lots of time in the kitchen cooking or baking, brought these two into a rewarding friendship. This match always has fun together, Diego shares, which is easy with a “down-to-earth” and “all-around good guy” like his Big Brother.

Their commonalities span from their love of baking cookies and following recipes to exercise and documentaries. Andy and Diego share perspectives, talk about news, and have thought-provoking conversations.

They also share simple moments which become fun memories to look back on. Andy recalls, just recently, the first day of the year with beautiful weather, when they decided to break out the grill. Andy then watched in amazement as his teenage Little scarfed down two burgers and two hot dogs.

When asked to describe each other in three words, Diego detailed his “compassionate, cunning, and intellectual” Big Brother’s personality, always kind but willing to give the truth straight up, adaptable, and a jack of all trades. Andy described his Little Brother as “kind, strong, and intelligent,” someone who lives by the golden rule and stays true to himself even when it’s not the easiest path.

Andy says the reason he chose the word “intelligent” is obvious: his Little just graduated as salutatorian of Snider High School, now off to study biology with a minor in science and society in New York at Columbia University. After that, he’ll be off to medical school to receive his doctorate and finally become a physician, just like his Big Brother Andy. But his dreams don’t end there. This Little’s lifelong vision entails becoming part of a greater movement within the medical field.

Rather than just practicing medicine, he hopes to own his own nonprofit medical firm and reach underserved and Latinx communities with accessible care. Coming from an immigrant household himself, Diego recognizes the barriers and struggles that face different communities regarding medical care and wants to be part of changing this. As his Big Brother once told him, time passes no matter what, so he plans to live with intention.

In preparation for his path to his medical doctorate, it would be easier to list what high school extracurricular and leadership roles Diego has NOT undertaken. Many of these pastimes stem from his passion for healthcare. In addition, Andy’s mentorship has been a great source of knowledge and experience for Diego, especially when he got to job-shadow his Big Brother at the hospital. This educational experience showed him how to move around in the clinical setting he will encounter in his own career one day.  

“I feel very supported professionally given that he’s a doctor and it is the same career that I will pursue,” said Diego. “Having that connection with him beyond a friendship, I feel supported in that way, like there is an authentic relatability.”

The hospital is a complex and nuanced setting, and according to Diego, his Big Brother has guided him through both the human and clinical sides of medicine. Andy believes teaching young people the way he thinks and processes keeps him sharp.

“It gives me a model of what I can be or what is possible,” said Diego. “He is an accomplished man and especially accomplished in the field I want to pursue. So, I suppose that gives me that figure to look at and to build up to.”

Beyond the professional aspect of their mentorship, Diego finds comfort in his amiable Big Brother’s camaraderie and support. As both a doctor and a down-to-earth and kind “brother,” Diego expresses that these two identities intersect and strengthen their relationship.  

“I just feel supported as a brother because he's there when I need him, call him, or reach out. He’s someone to confide in, and it's stronger than a friendship,” Diego shared.

As his Little prepares to go off to college, his Big Brother prepares, too, ready to give guidance in this new life chapter. He encourages Diego not to get too wrapped up in his newfound independence because GPAs are easy to drop and hard to raise. Especially for the medical path, it is crucial to stay on track in the first few years.

“I start to lay the groundwork for what it’s like to be a medical student when you go the path that I went; it’s not always an easy path. There are certain pitfalls you need to stay out of,” said Andy.

Diego visited Columbia University with Frank Zirille Scholarship Sponsorship Coordinator Amy Hamilton, and now he’s sure he made the right choice. He can’t wait to explore all that the heart of the city has to offer, make new friends, and work towards his goals. Andy is equally excited and jokes that his Little will have to tell him not to visit or he’ll want to be there all the time.

Based on his experiences, this Big Brother insists that volunteers get more out of the program than Littles do. Each Little Andy has had over the past 40 years imparted a piece of their own wisdom. His match with Diego is no different.

“The strength to be who you are,” said Andy about what Diego has taught him. “I really look up to that. I look up to him probably more than he looks up to me.”

To learn more about how to join our simple but impactful mentoring programs, just like Andy and Diego, visit www.bbbsnei.org or call 260-456-1600.

“It's a good investment of your time and your effort because really the program is going to do nothing but good for you,” said Diego.