Big Sister Laine and Little Sister Madison
Meet Big Sister Laine and Little Sister Madison, who have been matched for two years now. They first met in 2023 through the Community-Based mentoring program and have been painting pottery, trying new restaurants, and becoming friends ever since!
Laine first joined Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2013, closing her match when she moved out of Northeast Indiana. However, she remained connected to the mission, serving on the Board of Directors for the BBBS of South-Central Indiana agency. The idea of mentorship has always called to her.
As a previous youth basketball coach, this Big Sister knows how important a reliable adult outside of the family can be to young people. She’s been involved with sports most of her life, first as a player and later as a coach. The mentors Laine met on the court were important figures in her personal development. She jokes that, when she was younger, her parents could have told her the sky was blue, and she would have disagreed. Sometimes kids just need to hear advice from an adult outside of their family! Wanting to be this kind of guiding voice for someone else, she rejoined when she moved to Steuben County, excited to get to work with kids again.
Before being matched, Madison’s parents were looking for a program to help their daughter during their separation. Although this Little Sister was hesitant to meet a stranger, she still felt excited about having someone to talk to and do things with.
Although Madison is shyer and quieter than her extraverted Big Sister, the pair’s shared love of animals, spending time outside, and trying new things gave them a starting point in their friendship. Each visit, whether hiking at Pokagon or taking a trip on a train, allows the two to grow closer. They also frequent the local library, where they can work on homework or play games, or Starbucks for studying and frappés.
The perfect outing for this artsy Big and Little usually takes the form of a trip to the pottery workshop. The first time they made pottery together was one for the books. As they worked and worked and reworked the clay, they had so much fun giggling over their attempts. A couple of weeks later, they came back for their creations to paint and finish their pieces. It was exciting to make a piece from start to finish, and it was a fun way to show that you don’t need to be perfect at something to have fun! With each new step in the process, Madison gained confidence.
One of Laine’s goals as a Big Sister is to introduce her Little to new places and expand her Little’s horizons. Laine took Madison on her first trip to the Fort Wayne Zoo, and the two have enjoyed adventures in different cities. Laine wants her Little to see all that there is to experience out there! The two are excited to keep exploring new places and activities together, like BBBS Match Activities or even going to Cedar Point.
This mentor sees the teaching opportunities in everyday fun activities. Measuring ingredients while baking their favorite chocolate chip cookies allows them to practice their fractions. Over the past two years, Laine and Madison have made a point to not go to fast food together, always trying a new restaurant whenever they can. When they try new foods and talk to servers, Madison practices her decision-making and social skills. Going places and doing activities she’s never done before give this Little confidence and experience in putting herself out there.
“I do think her confidence has definitely grown. She speaks up for herself more. We're working on decision-making,” said Laine.
Madison credits her Big Sister for her newfound communication skills, teaching her how to converse better with friends and people at school. She knows Laine respects her opinions and cares for her and her family, and she can trust her “nice, caring, and respectful” Big Sister to talk to about anything she needs. Laine also encourages her Little Sister to think about her options for after high school. Although Madison is only 13 years old, it never hurts to think ahead!
“She supports my decisions and supports how I want to do things and what I'm doing in life, like plans for the future,” said Madison.
Madison’s mom notices the effect Laine’s mentorship has had on her daughter. There is a new air of self-confidence around her, and it is clear she looks up to Laine as a role model. More often, the middle schooler speaks up for herself and gives her honest opinions. Her mom even consults Laine occasionally for a different perspective.
Madison isn’t the only one who benefits from their mentorship. Laine loves being a Big Sister. Working in marketing in the pharma industry, Laine doesn’t get to see the direct impact of her work on other people. It’s very fulfilling to watch Madison grow up, and mentorship gives Laine a way to directly give back to someone else. Being in the program has also drawn attention to her words and actions, making her more intentional.
“These kids just want to have fun, and if you lead with that, the lessons come naturally,” said Laine. “I try to be more intentional, but at the end of the day, it's just about showing up and being consistent.”
Both are excited to see what new adventures the future holds.
“I love hanging out with her and talking to her and explaining how things are going. I love how she supports me,” said Madison. “She’s really nice, and I can't wait to do more things in the future, more hangouts. I love her and everything.”
Be Big!
Laine encourages others to give back to kids in their community. As the population of Steuben County continues to grow, Laine points out that there are now more people with the capacity to mentor for a few hours a month.
“I think we forget about some of these rural county areas,” said Laine. “Don't forget that there are kids in this community who really need our help and support.”
To learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit our website at www.bbbsnei.org or call 260-456-1600.
