Here’s a win-win proposition for upcoming juniors and seniors in high school – have fun mentoring a child while developing skills for college and career.
Through its High School Bigs program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina offers local high school students the opportunity to become rock stars in the eyes of elementary or middle school students in the area.
Big Jaden and Little Liam hanging out at the library.
High School Bigs cultivate leadership skills and enhance their futures by spending about an hour a week with a student near them. BBBSWNC is recruiting Bigs for the 2025-26 school year.
The school-age children, many with behavioral, academic, or other social needs, are referred to BBBSWNC by school counselors, teachers, social workers, or other school personnel. Teachers have said children mentored by High School Bigs have improved their academic performance, decreased serious school infractions, and lessened school days skipped.
Big Sylvia plays cards with Little Cayden.
“I have guided my Little Brother through life’s challenges by just being a dependable face,” former High School Big Harper has said (in keeping with agency protocol meant to protect a Little’s identity, BBBS typically identifies Littles and Bigs by first name only). “We challenge each other with card games, board games, sports, and – my favorite – making paper airplanes.
Although we have a lot of fun, we also work on schoolwork. High School Bigs like myself find gratification in helping our community by mentoring young students.”
“Bigs” meet their “Littles” at the younger person’s school weekly. Their hour together is spent helping the elementary school student with classwork and reading and doing a variety of activities that expand their interests, confidence, and social skills.
BBBSWNC supports High School Bigs by suggesting activities to do, such as starting a scrapbook, making family trees, reading books together, and looking at careers and colleges online.
The mentors, many of whom build leadership and compassion skills that help with college and job opportunities later, are asked to show up regularly and on time to give their Littles lots of attention and encouragement. Listening, not “preaching,” works best with kids, Bigs have found, as do respecting lifestyles, reinforcing successes, tolerating frustrations, and communicating at their Little’s level.
Respecting school policies and guidelines is important, as are prompting the child’s learning and not imposing values or solutions on the Little. Teachers are often happy to supply homework aids to help Bigs bolster their Littles’ academic success.
And as always, High School Bigs during the 2025-26 school year will receive lots of help and support from their BBBS program coordinator.
To learn more, click HERE.