We all need a little help sometimes. Whether we are bringing home six figures, or struggling to put food on the table - having to lean on someone is a feeling with which everyone has been familiar at least once. There are countless organizations and resources for individuals who are in need, and for those who would like to give back. I recently made the decision to do my part in bettering the world around me.
Meet Jessica. She is eight years old, although if you ask her she will tell you "I'm going to be nine on my birthday, it's in December." Jessica and her family live in south Scottsdale (around 64th St & Osborn) in an area where girls from the ages of 11-17 have become involved in extremely unhealthy activities due to influences from their community members, especially the men. In attempts to foster self esteem in young girls living in this area so that they can choose to resist these risky influences, the Scottsdale Prevention Institute has teamed up with The Boys and Girls Club of America and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Arizona to create a program that will provide them with mentors. Super Sisters is a nine month program that uses the Smart Girls/Smart Moves curriculum to educate young women about important life topics through a healthy mentor/mentee relationship. Some topics we cover include self esteem, body image, nutrition, finances, drug & alcohol use/abuse, and other areas that will give them knowledge and resources to make smart decisions in the future. We meet with our littles every other weekend for a few hours, getting to know them through activities that provide opportunities to discuss these often difficult-to-bring-up topics. At the end of our 9 month curriculum, we become regular big-little matches with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and can plan our own activities as often as we choose.
I've known Jessica for two months now, and I have absolutely fallen in love with her. She loves dancing, especially ballet. Her favorite color is yellow and her favorite movie is Save the Last Dance. There isn't a moment that goes by when she isn't chatting my ear off, and she is starting to feel comfortable enough with me to ask more difficult questions, like "what is beautiful?" She recently told me that if she had one special power, she would want to save the world. Jessica is a twin, and her sister Anna is also in the program. They are famous at their community center for being rambunctious and seem to always be the center of attention.
Recently, the Super Sister matches participated in the Boys and Girls Club Power of Potential 1 mile fun-run charity event. Jessica was determined to run the whole time and we made it in 10 minutes and 30 seconds. She wasn't even winded! After the race, Ana's big sister Hattie, and I took the girls out for bagels at Einstein's where we stopped to play with the dogs that were hanging out outside of the store. We all had so much fun, and it was a great way to start a Saturday.
Next week, Hattie and I are taking the girls to Zoolights, and I have a chance to meet Jessica's family at our Holiday Party on December 5th. I am looking forward to getting to know Jessica even better, and to becoming an even bigger part of her life. I am so grateful for how welcoming she has been with me. This truly has been one of the greatest choices I have ever made.
