As a single mother of four children, Rogelia was concerned that her children were not getting a lot of one-on-one time. She sought community programs to support the different interests and needs of her children. That’s when she found Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest.
Rogelia specifically wanted a role model for her 12-year-old son Virgilio, who goes by “Junior.” Junior enjoys being active and is a basketball fanatic. Big Brothers Big Sisters had the perfect match for Junior— a Big Brother named Kyle.
Junior and Kyle have developed a strong friendship. They play a lot of basketball together, and once even got courtside tickets to a Trail Blazers game!
When Kyle learned that Junior had never been to Seattle, they hit the road for a day trip. Once there, they enjoyed different food at Pike Place Market, including ice cream and fish, and tried out a virtual reality game. But Junior’s favorite part of the trip was seeing the Space Needle.
Their match shows how a Big can impact a Little’s life.
“Junior is getting better at basketball. I can visibly see his interest increase, and I noticed he is more talkative when he is active,” shared Kyle.
Rogelia said that Junior looks happier and she appreciates his mentor being able to take him places that she never could.
The few hours a month each Big and Little spend together can translate into new experiences, an increase in interests, and, in Junior’s case, a boost in self-esteem! Now, Junior considers Kyle a committed and trustworthy person in his life.
If you’re ready to make a positive difference in a child’s life, sign up to be a Big today!
