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Growing up, Alexia never really had an opportunity to experience life outside of her neighborhood, and unfortunately, her neighborhood was not a positive environment for a young child. “I grew up in a neighborhood with lots of violence,” Alexia remembers. “I never played outside.” Before long, to give her more of a chance to enjoy life as a kid, she was enrolled in her local Big Brothers Big Sisters program based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This would be the start of a life-changing experience for Alexia.

When she was in fourth grade, Alexia first met her new Big Sister Reina. Alexia enjoyed and looked forward to her time with her Big Sister, as Reina tried to provide new opportunities and experiences for her. “Every place I went with her, I’d never been there before,” Alexia says.

The pair enjoyed their time together, visiting the beach, going to Western Michigan University football games – where they even got to meet the team – and working in the garden. Because of her Big Sister, Alexia got a chance to experience a different kind of family life, sitting down to a family dinner for the very first time.

The impact that Reina had on Alexia growing up can best be exemplified by Alexia’s decision to sign up to become a Big Sister herself. “Reina is why I wanted to be a Big Sister,” she says. “She really made a difference in my life, and I want to give back.”

Alexia was first matched with her own Little Sister Amaricas three years ago. Their relationship has continued, even after Alexia started attending Western Michigan University. “I think it’s important to be a good role model,” she says. “I want to show Amaricas that there is more to life than the violence she sees. I want to show her stability, because I didn’t have that until I met Reina, so I want to be that for her.”

While it may not always be a favorite activity for the match, Alexia works hard to instil in her Little Sister the importance of paying attention to her schoolwork. Amaricas will even admit that the work they have done together has paid off, as she has noticed an improvement in her reading!

When asked what she likes about her Big Sister, Amaricas responded, “She’s nice and cute and so beautiful. She’s warm and fuzzy like a teddy bear.”

For her part, Alexia says she simply enjoys the opportunity to teach her Little Sister that “she can be smart and pretty at the same time.”

Seventeen years ago, Darryl was an 8-year-old boy growing up in a single-parent household, raised by his mother. Darryl’s mother worked hard to provide for her family, but that also meant that she could not always be there to ensure that Darryl was on the right path. Like many other children growing up in his neighborhood, Darryl was exposed to numerous situations not conducive to a healthy adolescence. Drugs, alcohol, truancy and gang violence were all commonplace in the area he lived.

It was not until his mother signed him up with Big Brothers Big Sisters that he was able to recognize the importance of having people in his life who could make a positive impact on him. After signing him up with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Darryl was matched with a Big Couple, Greg and Barbara. Darryl enjoyed the time he spent with them, going to ballgames and the park and even having nice sit-down meals in the evening every once in a while.

Darryl appreciated the support, guidance and encouragement that Greg and Barbara were always ready and willing to give him. On a special day, when he was 10, Greg and Barbara took Darryl to their office downtown. While there, they encouraged him to give thought to what he might want to be when he grew older.

“They told me that I was smart enough and that I was hardworking enough to achieve any level of success that I could set my mind to,” Darryl said. “If someone doesn’t plant vision in your life and take you places that you’ve never been or show you things that you’ve never seen, how can you dream any bigger?”

Darryl recognized the impact that having Greg and Barbara in his life made on him. Realizing that he could contribute as well, when the time was right, he signed up to become a Big Brother and was eventually matched with his Little Brother Jaylin. He took the time to honor his commitment to Jaylin, showing him new experiences and introducing him to new opportunities and new people. In time, Jaylin’s social skills improved, his personality emerged and his school work became an important part of his life.

Darryl, now a petroleum engineer and board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston, summed it up: “The reality is, I don’t know where I’d be had I not met Barbara and Greg, and I don’t know where I would be without Big Brothers Big Sisters.”

Last year, Robyn, a Comcast employee in Illinois, was matched with a local high school student named MeKayla. The pair was matched through the Comcast Beyond School Walls mentoring program with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago.

Over the past year, one event that Robyn and MeKayla particularly enjoyed was Comcast Cares Day, held at MeKayla’s high school. During the day, they helped to complete a project at the school, which included building a flower garden, putting together and staining picnic benches, and creating an outdoor mural for the entrance of the school.

MeKayla enjoyed the opportunity to work side by side with Robyn during Comcast Cares Day. She liked getting to introduce Robyn to her friends, and also had fun getting to meet Robyn’s daughter.

“The Comcast BBBS Beyond School Walls mentoring program helps me to work on what I need to do to be successful not only in school, but also in life as I get older,” MeKayla said. “Robyn, my mentor, also helps to motivate me and keep me on the right path.”

The Beyond School Walls program, first started in 2008 as a partnership between Comcast and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania, matches Littles with Bigs who lead successful working lives in the community. Students in school are matched in one-on-one mentoring relationships with professionals who help to give them a look at a real working environment, and to help offer guidance for the future. Since its start, it has continued to spread around the country and has become a unique volunteer model.

Robyn understands the chance she has to have a positive impact in MeKayla’s life. “I truly appreciate the work that BBBS does to create this mentoring opportunity for the Littles and Bigs,” she said. “High school is an important time in life. It is full of big choices. I am lucky to be MeKayla’s Big Sister and always look forward to talking with her.”

Soon, Comcast Cares Day 2015 will again see participants working on a project directed by a student in the program, Vincent, along with Comcast employee Chris Jewasinski. The project will involve creating an outdoor volleyball court, as well as beautifying the outdoor areas where students like to spend time before and after school.

About one year ago, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas elected a new board member – but not your typical board addition. This new member was 12-year-old Little Eric. A member of the program since he was 5 years old, Eric is very familiar with Big Brothers Big Sisters, having participated in various events and activities over the years.

Eric grew up without a father or brother, so his mother, Scharlena, signed him up with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Before long, he was matched with his new Big Brother, Marcus.

Scharlena mentioned that being matched with his Big Brother Marcus has made a huge difference in his life. “The first time he met his Big Brother, it was a Christmas present,” Scharlena remembered. “He was overwhelmed with joy!”

Eric has been heavily involved in supporting the organization throughout his time with Big Brothers Big Sisters. He has been featured in two radio commercials and has been featured in all the major San Antonio news networks. He was featured in the news as an “Extraordinary Kid” when he was just 5 years old. Now, even local anchors recognize him.

Eric works closely with the external relations team to give facility tours and contribute to presentations, and he has even done a bit of lobbying – sharing his story with various state representatives and senators!

“The impact Eric has on our agency is his incredible gift,” said Denise Barkhurst, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas. “He makes connections with everyone he comes across, whether it be staff, donors, board members or members of the Texas Congress.”

Eric, with the support of his mother, Scharlena, believes in Big Brothers Big Sisters. “I don’t want kids to wait,” said Eric. “I’m glad there’s a program to help others like me who don’t have a brother or father.”

At age 13, Xavier was facing obstacles that would be difficult for anyone at any age or life stage. His parents had recently divorced, and he lost all of his possessions in a house fire. With few goals and low self-esteem, Xavier never really stood out among his peers. He was not overly popular or athletic, and he did not excel academically. His mother recognized that he needed something else in his life, so she signed him up with Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters.

After going through the enrollment process, Xavier met and was matched with his new Big Brother, Air Force Maj. Joe Hunt, who was stationed at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita. The pair very quickly bonded over a number of things, including their love of sports cars, action movies and working out.

Over time, Xavier and Joe continued to grow close. As they did, Xavier’s grades even began to improve. Joe gave Xavier one piece of simple, steadfast advice: “Do your very best in every endeavor, and you will be fine.”

After getting an introduction to what it was like to be a military officer, Xavier decided that was what he wanted to do with his life. With Joe’s encouragement, he signed up for JROTC at his school. It was in JROTC that Xavier finally felt like he had found his niche. He quickly rose to the top of his JROTC class, and he earned an ROTC scholarship to the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School, among other honors.

“Without my Big Joe, I never would have taken my first step of joining JROTC; I would have never received a scholarship to the Air Force Academy, and, most importantly, I would never have become the man I am today,” Xavier said.

Today, having retired from service as a U.S. Air Force officer, Xavier works as a civil engineer and project manager for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Xavier’s story exemplifies the level of impact and positive influence that having a Big Brother or Big Sister can have in terms of helping support and provide direction, increase self-esteem and improve academic performance.

Nearly 20 years ago, Tim was a reporter working for the Topeka Capital-Journal. At that point in his life, Tim felt the need to give back to his community, so he signed up to volunteer with Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters. It was at that point that he first met his new Little Brother, 10-year-old Kenny.

“I still remember that day like it was yesterday,” Kenny recollects. “We met at McDonald’s. I had so much anticipation about what my Big Brother would look like: Would he be short or tall, fat or skinny? When Tim walked in, I felt this huge sigh of relief. ‘Oh, good, he looks normal.’”

Kenny’s family life was not always an easy one, so having someone in his life like Tim very quickly became a constant, positive presence. The pair realized they shared many similar interests, including sports and classic rock music. Tim and Kenny would get together nearly every Sunday to spend time together, watching sports, hanging out and talking about life.

As a testament to the impact that a mentor like Tim could have on someone like Kenny, in 2011, Kenny became the first person in his family to graduate from college, graduating from Kansas State University. Tim was in the stands, cheering on his (not so) Little Brother.

There’s no question that Tim and Kenny’s relationship has had a dramatic and deep impact on both of them. Not too long ago, Tim stood by Kenny’s side as his best man when he married his wife, Maria. And again in that same year, Tim was at Kenny’s side to support him after both of Kenny’s parents passed away.

Kenny and Tim both agree they each benefited greatly from their relationship. For his part, Tim, who never married, says that in Kenny, Maria and their son, Kyle, he has family for life. Kenny even gave Tim the honor of being Kyle’s godfather.

Tim sums it up like this: “There was never any question in my mind that I would stick by him.”

Three years ago, Aaron was struggling greatly with his reading. In October 2011, after enrolling in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, he was matched with his new Big Brother, Thomas. After devoting much time to working on his reading, Aaron now sees reading as one of his favorite things to do!

After enhancing his reading skills with the help of his Big Brother, Aaron has begun challenging others to take up reading as well. Aaron is encouraging others to read a book a week during March, which is National Reading Month. To help kick off the Reading Challenge, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County recently had a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the “Little Free Library” that Aaron and Thomas helped create with donated books.

During the month long challenge, Aaron is encouraging participants to read one book per week, and to participate in special challenges. For each book and challenge completed, the participating Little wins a prize/ Along with reading throughout the month, Aaron has asked that participants join in the fun by writing their own stories to share at a book fair at the end of the month!

As an example of the impact having a dedicated mentor can have on the life of a child, Aaron went from barely being able to read to reading so much that he wanted to donate his old books and develop a creative way to get others excited about reading!

If you are curious to learn more about the fantastic job that Aaron and his Big Brother have been doing, click here.

Taryll knew there was something special about her new Little Sister Blessin from when she first learned about her. She knew the match was meant to be. The two were matched as a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia in South Carolina.

Even from the early stages when the matching process began, Taryll discovered just how similar her life was to Blessin’s. “I learned I was literally going to be mentoring ‘myself’ as a little girl,” Taryll said. “Blessin is being raised by her grandmother, and so was I. I can help Blessin because I used to be Blessin!”

When Blessin and Taryll get together, there is never a dull moment. They both share similar outgoing personalities and spirits. Whether they would pay a visit to a museum, take a trip to the library, enjoy a friendly game of bowling or simply share a phone conversation together, they are both very thankful for their time together.

“Not only do I believe I impact her life, but she has definitely impacted mine,” Taryll said. “She is such a joy to be around. Her grandmother and mom are very supportive of the program and want the best for her, and I would like to assist them in making sure she is presented with some grand opportunities.”

In 2008, Brittin attended an information session on Big Brothers Big Sisters at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. During the presentation, she grew inspired by the opportunity to work with children and make a difference. After signing up to volunteer, Brittin had a couple of matches through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois’s school-based program before being matched with her current Little Sister, Tariah, in the summer of 2011.

Tariah lives in a small apartment with her mom, her brother and her two younger sisters. Tariah is grateful for Big Brothers Big Sisters as it provides her with both a constant friend and mentor in her life. This is a role Brittin takes to heart.

The two have started a tradition, with Brittin starting off each match outing by asking Tariah what things have made her happy, sad or frustrated since they last saw each other. Oftentimes, Tariah will ask Brittin the same question. This serves as a chance for them to touch base and stay current on what is going on in each other’s lives.

Brittin and Tariah enjoy a balanced mix of activities – from volunteering to roller-skating. From the start, Brittin has tried to place importance on having fun, but also on working on Tariah’s schoolwork. Whether they’re improving her spelling test grades or tackling any other subjects, working on Tariah’s education has always been central part of their time together.

Their range of outings allows the two to also work on things like improving Tariah’s social skills and challenging her to get out of her comfort zone. Sometimes they will do homework together, and other times, for example, they will just go roller-skate for hours!

For Tariah, she simply enjoys having Brittin be a part of her life. “Brittin is someone of my own, and that is special to me,” she says. “I feel better about myself since I have Brittin, and I want to be so many things when I grow up now. I love having Brittin as a Big Sister.”

Marilee has been affiliated with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Polk County, now a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, for more than 14 years! Following her first match, which lasted seven years, Marilee met Ay’Sha in 2008 during a site-based program at a Lakeland elementary school. The two are still successfully matched today!

Once a week, Marilee would visit with her Little Sister at school to help Ay’Sha with some of her reading and math difficulties. As time progressed, the two enjoyed their time together so much that they continued their match through the community-based program.

While they continued to work on improving Ay’Sha’s school work, they also spent plenty of time discussing some of life’s bigger issues – such as making friends and fitting in at school. They always still found opportunities to have fun and enjoy a lot of different activities together. When Ay’Sha was 11 Marilee even taught her how to swim, and now going to the pool is one of their favorite activities.

Throughout Marilee and Ay’Sha’s seven-year match, they have had many fun times and experiences together. But Ay’Sha says she simply loves any time the two spend together, laughing and talking.

As Ay’Sha put it, “my Big Sister is the greatest!”