Little Moments, Big Magic

By Lyndsay Rowley

Teresa's face lights up with joy as she says, "the students at High Point University have no idea how many lives they have truly touched, and possibly saved."

Teresa Jackson is the liaison for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program to High Point University, and every Little for a High Point University student must go through her.

Surrounding HPU, there are several low-end neighborhoods that house children who are less fortunate.

"Having a Big Brother or Sister is a sort of outlet for these children. Some of them don't have very strong role models so they can use all the support they can get," Teresa explains.

Sometimes all a child needs is to know that they are not alone and that they have someone there to help them through the problems in their life.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters program is a mentoring program for youths ages 6 through 18.

There are two different types of programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

There is a community-based mentor program where Bigs and Littles meet for an hour a week in their community to share quality time together.

There is also the school-based mentoring program where Bigs and Littles meet once a week in the Little's school to share some quality time together.

The Dedication

Tara Dyer, a volunteer in the program, says, "It amazing how much these children will open up to us after a short period of time."

Dyer is a senior at HPU and was assigned a boy in second grade two years ago.

Tara has a child who has a rough home life, because of an absent father.

"By the end of year one my little brother was more comfortable talking to me than his teacher about his home life. He has really let me in his life," Dyer says smiling.

Putting her hand to her chest, Dyer says, "one day when I was not at the school, my Little was having a rough day, and he told his teacher that he only wanted to talk to me. When I heard about that, I almost started to cry."

HPU has had students volunteering for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for 10 years.

Nodding her head in approval, Teresa says, "I have been working for Big Brothers Big Sister for 14 years and every year I work with High Point students it seems like we get more dedicated volunteers."

Mikel Rodenburg is a senior baseball player at HPU, and has been volunteering for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for three years.

"I am so dedicated to the program because it's nice to feel needed. I feel like I am really helping these kids," Rodenburg says with wide eyes.

Rodenburg explains that he has a Little who has an absent father and a mother who works three jobs.

"My Little has to help out a lot at home so when I come it is a time for him to have fun and let loose, because when he goes home he has to help his mom with the other kids. He doesn't have a lot of time to just be a kid," says Rodenburg.

"The sports teams at High Point University have been so amazing through the years. For the most part, they are all involved and they all do such a great job with the kids," Teresa explains.

Throwing her arms up in excitement Teresa exclaims, "I always have children coming up to me when I go to the schools asking me when their Bigs are coming to see them!"

Teresa explains how college kids are going through a transitional phase into the real world, so sometimes they can use the comradery that the program provides just as much as the children.

"Sometime college kids are confused on who they are and what they want to become, and sometimes a child who really needs them can help to figure it out," Teresa says with a grin.

The Teacher

Megan Kaminskas is a senior at High Point University, and she says she was lost before Big Brothers Big Sisters.

"I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life, but then I started volunteering with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program," Kaminskas explains.

Giggling Kaminskas explains, "I guess my calling was to be a teacher, and I figured that out within the first month of volunteering with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program."

Kaminskas explains that on day her Little was so frustrated doing a math problem that he threw his pencil across the room.

Kaminskas explains, "I went and picked up the pencil and told him that he'll never get it if he gives up."

Kaminskas says that she explained the math problem in a different way using candy and her Little started to understand.

From that day on her Little saved the hard math problems for when Kaminskas came to see him so she could explain them.

Soon her Little was getting much better grades in math.

The Process

Even though the High Point Students have a good reputation with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, it doesn't mean that just anyone can volunteer.

Shaking her finger in authority, Teresa says, "we do an extensive background check on every person that wants to become a volunteer."

Volunteers also have to have two references that can talk about their ability as a mentor.

After volunteers pass the background check, they will have a meeting with Teresa in order to try and figure out what kind of child they would best be matched with.

"We want to match volunteers with children who will fit their personality," Teresa explains.

Teresa asks the volunteers a series of questions and then will figure out which child, that wants a Big, would best benefit from their time.

"I ask the volunteers all different questions, like their likes and dislikes. I ask them if they have siblings, and what kind of family they come from. This helps to see how they will be with children," says Teresa.

Teresa has to really try and figure out the kind of person a volunteer is, because they want the matches to last.

"I can't put a child who is a big trouble maker with a volunteer who doesn't have thick skin, or they will just give up," says Teresa.

Most Memorable Match

Teresa explains her most memorable match, "I matched a female High Point student with a little boy who was always a trouble maker."

The little boy was in the principal’s office almost every day. He had an absent father and his mother was supporting eight children in her house, and working two jobs.

"The day I had the initial interview with the young woman, I knew right away that she would be perfect for the little boy," explains Teresa.

The little boy gave the young woman a hard time for the first couple of months. He had his guard up and did not want to let her break it down.

Teresa smiles, "finally, the little boy started letting her into his life. Before I knew it, all he talked about was his Big."

The little boy started doing better in school and was in the principal's office much less.

Teresa says, "I really don't know what kind of path that little boy would have gone down, but I know that she stopped him from going down a bad one."

Teresa states that in 2001 the Big Brothers Big Sisters program coined the phrase, "little moments, big magic."

In the Big Brothers Big Sisters program it is the little moments, like watching a child open up to their Big for the first time, that create the big magic.

Sidebar:

Facts About Big Brothers Big Sisters:

• Children who have a Big are 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs

• Children who have a Big are 27% less likely to begin using alcohol

• Children who have a Big are 52% less likely to skip school

• Children who have a Big are 37% less likely to skip a class

• Children who have a Big are more confident of their performance in schoolwork

• Children who have a Big are one-third less likely to hit someone

• Children who have a Big get along better with their families

Sidebar:

DJ and I

By Lyndsay Rowley

I remember when I saw DJ for the first time; a tough guy sitting with his arms folded, and an unwelcoming look on his face. This was his way of showing the world that he wasn't letting anyone in.

I spent countless hours trying to crack him, but after a few weeks I saw that I needed a new angle.

So, one day I took him to the gym in his school to play basketball. After he had lost to a girl a couple of times, he began to see that I wasn't half bad. He began to open up to me; telling me his fears and dreams.

I learned DJ was involved in gangs and thought school was a joke.

DJ began to do a little better in school and was mouthing off a little less, but I wanted more for him. I wanted him to be great.

I remember coming to his school one day after he had gotten in a lot of trouble. I went and got him from the principal’s office.

He wouldn't even look at me, let alone speak to me. I kept asking questions until he finally blew up and yelled, "What do you care!"

It occurred to me in that moment that DJ thought I was going to give up on him like others in his life had.

I sat down in front of him and said, "DJ, look at me. I'm not going anywhere. You can keep pushing away but I'm going to keep coming back. I'm not ever going to give up on you."

DJ gave me a big hug, and from then on things began to change. DJ started trying harder in school and getting in less trouble.

His grades started to go up and he talked less and less about the gangs he was involved in. Sometimes all a child needs is to know they are not alone.

DJ goes to a different school now, and is no longer my Little Brother. However, he is doing great.

Many people think that the Big Brothers Big Sisters program is about the Littles, but I have come to learn it is just as much about the Bigs.

DJ taught me to have faith in people, and I will forever be grateful to him for that.


Teresa Jackson Speaks About Big Brothers Big Sisters