Big Sister Sydney and Little Sister Samantha
Big Sister Sydney and Little Sister Samantha were first matched in 2017 through the Community-Based program. Almost 10 years later, the match officially closed, but their friendship continues beyond the program.
For Big Sister Sydney, there was never a specific moment she learned about Big Brothers Big Sisters. It was just something that was always a part of the community, local service opportunities, and the Fort Wayne Community School system where she worked. She didn’t give it much thought until she felt a calling to connect with and act as a mentor for a young person. A spontaneous opportunity arose for her to sign up for BBBS, so she excitedly enrolled, open to whatever experiences the program brought her.
The dynamic that formed between the new mentor and her shy eleven-year-old Little Sister revolved around getting to know each other and showing Samantha new aspects of her city. Their outings were filled with new experiences, like service work, and new places, like ordering food in downtown Fort Wayne.
There was a time when Sydney, along with Samantha and Samantha’s sister, joined a river clean-up crew. The three boarded a canoe, picked trash out of the water, and enjoyed the beautiful day. There was lots of laughter and fun to be shared, and this is one of Sydney’s favorite memories from being matched.
“I could tell they really felt like they were a part of something. They really felt like they were doing something good, and they were excited about it and enthusiastic,” she explained.
This match’s friendship today grew from years of trying new foods, being creative together, and a shared desire to see more of the world. Especially as Samantha got older, Sydney witnessed another trait blossom in her Little: a commitment to living authentically. Watching Samantha mature was a very special experience.
“When we were first matched, it was a lot more of me taking the lead, supporting her, finding out who she was. She was so young and shy,” said Sydney. “I would say we're much more like peers at this point because she's just so wise naturally, and our relationship has grown into more of a friendship.”
Over the past nine years, Sydney saw her Little Sister grow from middle schooler to high schooler to 20-year-old adult. As this Big Sister exposed her Little to new things, she, too, learned from her caring, thoughtful, and authentic mentee. It was a proud moment to see her Little take on the world, especially navigating high school during COVID.
“I would say I learned just as much from her. She opens me up to the world and different ideas as equally as I was trying to open her up to the world,” shared Sydney.
Mentoring someone also taught Sydney that the best way to be there for someone is to listen and learn. Serve others in the way that is best for who they are and what they need.
The experience also opened her eyes to all that Fort Wayne has to offer and exposed her to people she wouldn’t have otherwise met in her city. In connecting with Samantha, Sydney met a family that she never would have known had she not been matched, which was a powerful experience for her.
“It exposed me to how amazing Fort Wayne is and how many resources there are for Bigs and Littles to be able to expose them to cool things,” explained Sydney. “I feel like it connected me to the community and made me feel a part of Fort Wayne a little bit more.”
Sydney and Samantha may have left the program, but the relationship they formed as Big-and-Little continues beyond. The future holds so many possibilities for a genuine Little like Samantha, and Sydney can’t wait to see what’s next and continue encouraging her through life.
“I'm just so proud of her. I really believe in her and her authenticity and that the way she keeps just growing up as herself is her power,” said Sydney.
Be Big!
Sydney encourages others to join the program that made such a difference in her life, pointing out how simple yet impactful it can be.
“I would say it's a minimal time commitment for an absolutely maximum impact on someone's life and in the community. It is a really powerful, wonderful experience that will enhance and feed your life forever,” she shared.
Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters by visiting our website at www.bbbsnei.org or calling 260-456-1600.
