As a volunteer Big Brother I have a wonderful time at West Homer school with my Little Brother. I enjoy hanging out with younger kids and that is a large part of why I wanted to be a Big. I help my Little with school, and occasionally I get to go out to recess with him. Once we even went ice skating and I helped him learn to skate. Mentoring has a very tangible impact on children’s lives. No matter how large or small the impact, it’s always a positive one. Plus, thanks to Big Brothers Big Sisters, I gained a fantastic new friend.
Ethan Kizzia
High School Big Brother

My official time as a “Big” mentoring the same young person is scheduled to end in March when my “Little,” Justice, turns 18. He is a senior at Homer High School with plans to attend college after he graduates in May. Thinking back over our eight plus years hanging out together, I considered what difference my involvement had made in his life.
I wanted to be for him a dependable, trusted adult who encouraged him to learn and do well at school, would teach him new skills, introduce him to activities and experiences he may not have had the chance to try, and would share things that I do that are probably out of the ordinary. I wanted to open doors to new ideas, activities, books, reading, sports, the outdoors, good food choices, animals, music, drama, and choices he could make that would expose him to new avenues of learning and doing. Mentoring is about sharing, guiding, talking, thinking, being involved in community, and being a good role model.
When we are officially graduated out of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program in March, that will not really change anything because we became friends quite a while ago. I expect to be his friend for a long time, and I am sure he feels the same. I know I have made a difference for him. He has told me. That really is all the thanks I need, to know that I really did make a difference in a young person’s life. You can do the same by volunteering to be a Big in Homer’s local Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Big Sister Nina Faust

I volunteered for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program after hearing the positive comments of my friends. Their comments focused on the improvement of their Littles, how cute the Littles were, and the pride they felt about being a positive influence. It’s rare that a person has the chance to have a direct, positive influence on a child’s life, but that is the chance I get every week when I visit my Little Brother at school. To me, his smile when he sees me is the only reward I’ll ever need.
Dylan Faulkner
High School Big Brother