Big Sister Connie & Little Sister Jenna

Meet Big Sister Connie and Little Sister Jenna who have been matched for 6 years now!

Big Sister Connie and Little Sister Jenna first met in August 2018 through our Community-Based program and have been hanging out ever since.

Finding a Friend

Connie had been considering the program for a long time before she finally signed up to be a Big. However, with her family living out of town, she knew it was now the right time to commit to having a Little Sister.

Her older sister had already been matched in the program for several years, so Jenna was very excited to get a Big Sister. For Jenna, their match-up was so long ago that she doesn’t even remember what it was like before! But she does remember what she first thought about her Big Sister—and still thinks: “I thought she was kind and loving and caring and just perfect!”

The feelings were mutual, as Connie thought Jenna “was pure joy to meet.”

For their first outing, Connie took 6-year-old Jenna to the park for ice cream. To her surprise, Jenna started singing songs in the car. But not the songs on the radio, she was making her own songs! Connie knew this would be the start of a special friendship.

Many Match Adventures

Now there are so many things Connie and Jenna fill their get-togethers with. Both big lovers of animals, arts and crafts, and painting, their outings always have a fun and creative twist—just how they like it. One of Jenna’s personal favorite traditions is feeding marshmallows to the raccoons. They also visit the park, bake, horseback ride, have spa nights, play games, watch movies, and—Jenna’s favorite—have slumber parties! This Little Sister still creates songs on the piano whenever she visits Connie. Whatever they have planned, Jenna knows it will be “super fun and chill.”

Connie said, “We both enjoy outside activities. BBBS does such a nice job matching you with similar interests.” 

BBBS has many fun Match Activities to offer Bigs and Littles, which Connie and Jenna like to take advantage of. They loved the Brad Miller Boo Bash, TinCaps games, and tie-dying t-shirts.

One of Connie and Jenna’s yearly birthday traditions is celebrating Birthdays at Chuck E. Cheese or Putt Putt now that she’s older.

Since Jenna, her older sister Kendra, and her twin sister Maya are all three a part of BBBS, they find it fun to do match activities together once in a while, whether it’s Family Fun Nights at church or celebrating birthdays. In the summers, Jenna and her sisters are always welcome to visit Connie’s house for swimming, ping-pong games, and even riding the golf cart on a special mission: visit the neighbor’s house to feed their goats!

What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than with your sisters? Connie, Jenna, and Jenna’s sisters all had a fun and memorable Galentine’s spaghetti dinner, complete with candlelight and a server (Connie’s husband)!  

These types of memorable moments are one reason Jenna’s mom believes mentoring programs have helped her as a parent and her daughters.

“Having another adult who can introduce them to things that just fit, but I would have never thought of is so important!” she said.

A Sister to Talk to

After all these years, Jenna and Connie have gotten to know each other pretty well. This is what gives Jenna the authority to declare how fantastic her Big Sister is! She could go on about all the things that make her Big Sister the best, but if she had to describe her Big in one word it would be “thoughtful.” Jenna elaborated, saying, “She is always thinking of other people, and she’s amazing.”

Jenna’s favorite part of having a Big Sister is “having someone to talk to” because she feels she can talk to her Big Sister about whatever, whenever. She pointed out that “other kids would like having someone to talk to, too,” which is why she would recommend joining BBBS to anyone.

This is something Connie intentionally tries to be for Jenna, a reliable friend who is always there to talk to and uplift.

“Her family has moved several times, and I felt that my encouraging words helped her adjust to her new schools,” Connie shared. She was also able to be there for Jenna during this transition in a different way: right there in the school!

“I was fortunate enough to substitute teach at her last school. It was always nice to see her smiling face coming down the hallway. She always brightens someone’s day with her random compliments,” she continued.

Jenna’s mom has seen the way having a Big Sister has affected all three of her girls, believing it has allowed all her daughters to mature and develop into their personalities.

“Connie is just amazing. She’s super easy to talk to,” Jenna’s mom added, saying that Connie has been a super open communicator throughout the match which has allowed them to become close too.

Looking ahead, Jenna would love nothing more than to keep on doing what they’re doing with her “fun, kind, and loving” Big Sister. Next up on her bucket list is to go to the Roller Dome together.

“I am not sure who has benefitted more from the program, Jenna or myself.  I am looking forward to being a part of Jenna’s life in the years ahead,” added Connie.  

Be a Big!

The laughter and support you can find in a friend go a long way in brightening your life. This is why Big Brothers Big Sisters’ mentorship programs have provided kids and adults with a way to have fun with a friend for over 50 years!  But don’t just take it from us!

Big Sister Connie says:

“I encourage anyone thinking about becoming a Big to do so. It enriches their lives along with your own.”

Discover how you can make all the difference in your life and a child’s:

Learn more about volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters here. Wanting to take the next step? Start the application process here.