Ashley and Lacey were matched in the School Based program back in September, 2011. Ashley contacted Big Brothers
Big Sisters at the beginning of her college career with the aspiration to help
a child by being a positive role-model and someone a child could talk to. Before
becoming involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ashley utilized her desire to
help others by volunteering with the Special Olympics and Cadet teaching for a
kindergarten class during her senior year in high school. Ashley is completing
her internship this summer at the YMCA before graduating and receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Family Services from the University of
Northern Iowa.
Lacey lives with her grandmother and two sisters. Lacey’s
grandmother works hard to provide for the family which leaves limited time to
spend with Lacey one on one. Lacey expressed to her school teacher that she
would like a Big Sister so she would have someone to talk to and spend
time with. In the past three years Lacey
has been able to do just that with her Big Sister, Ashley.
Throughout the last
three years, Ashley has met with Lacey at her school consistently and the two
have enjoyed doing many activities together such as playing cards, word/math
games, putting puzzles together and working on Lacey’s school work. Now that
Ashley is about to start a new chapter in her life, her schedule will no longer
allow her to meet with Lacey in school. Lacey told Ashley that she would still
like to continue spending time with her and brought up the idea of switching to
the Community Based program. Ashley met Lacey’s idea with great enthusiasm because
she too did not want to end the wonderful relationship that they had developed
the last few years. Ashley expressed this idea to their Match Coordinator and the
request was met with Lacey’s grandmother’s approval as she too has seen how
much Lacey has enjoyed spending time with Ashley and how having a mentor has
benefited Lacey greatly.
It would have been easy for Ashley to close their match
while taking this next big step in her life as she has already exceeded the
requirements and expectations of the program. Instead, Ashley has used this next
chapter as a way to open new doors for their match and build on their already
solid friendship. It is going to be great watching their relationship grow even
stronger as they experience new and exciting things together out in the
community!
