Big Brothers Big Sisters THINK BIG Program

Vital Stats

Nicole K

Greensboro, NC

  • people helped60
  • People Doing It30

The Problem

I chose a service learning project for a high school senior project. I recognized there was a huge need and opportunity in my community for peer mentoring. I specifically wanted to start a peer mentoring program to match high school student mentors with elementary school children in Title 1 schools. I believe elementary school age children can benefit most long term from positive role modeling and peer mentoring. Many young children living in disadvantaged socioeconomic homes will never have the opportunity to take private lessons or hire private tutor to help them fullfill their dreams. However, high school mentors who possess these talents and training can share their gifts with another student free of charge through mentoring. The mentoring opportunities include academics, art, music, sports and more. After a lot of research on how to establish a school based mentoring program I discovered that Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) could assist me with my project goals. With their support and guidance I founded the Greater Greensboro BBBS THINK BIG program and serve as president of the first THINK BIG Club at Northern Guilford High School. The THINK BIG Club currently has 8 high school "Bigs" matched with 8 elementary school "Littles" for mentoring 1-2 hours weekly for 1 year on subjects of common interest. These mentoring relationships offer chidren in need the opportunity to learn a chosen skill, gain a positive role model and a Big Brother or Sister, which will hopefully change their life for the better and positively influence the future paths they choose in life. I hope the THINK BIG program will expand into additional high schools next year. Eventually every high school could be partnered with an elementary school in my school district. Long term I hope the program will expand to every school district in North Carolina. This program offers help to children in need through positive peer mentoring and offers high school students a valuable service learning opportunity in their community.

Plan of Action

I chose community service learning for my senior project. My goal was to start a school based peer mentoring program in my school and possible in my school district. Through many hours of research I discovered that The Big Brothers Big Sisters non-profit organization had a school based mentoring program which may be capable of supporting my idea to partner high school students with elementary school students for peer mentoring. I reached out to the Greater Greensboro Big Brothers Big Sisters to discuss my idea. Even though there were many budget cuts this year, the school based mentoring program director gave me approval to start the school based peer mentoring program THINK BIG Club at my high school. After gaining approval from my high school principal to start the club I enlisted the help of friends to "get the word out" about the new club. I held our first THINK BIG club meeting and to my suprise almost 30 students showed up to learn more and join. As a result, the club has been able to get 8 student "Bigs" matched with 8 student "Littles". The pilot program has recieved rave reviews from parents, teachers, school administrators and especially from the students involved. My long term goal is to bring attention to the success the THINK BIG club has experienced in my high school so that the program can expand into other high schools next year. Eventually I want the THINK BIG club to expand into every high school in my county and maybe even my state. I have high hopes for the Big Brothers Big Sisters THINK BIG project.
Go
Music Education

Related Stuff