A Big Impact
7th grade Little Sister, Yazmarie, was recommended to Big Brothers Big Sisters after getting caught up in the
wrong crowd
and making poor choices in her at school. Her pregnant single mother was busy with her younger siblings. Yazmarie relied on school lunch program to eat and that stress took it's toll. Last year, Yazmarie accumulated 8 referrals for her behavioral conduct in school, leading her down a
dangerous path
. However, that was before she and Big Sister Lori made a plan.
The two met at
Beyond School Walls
last October. They met bimonthly and worked on developing trust and building a relationship.
Fast forward 1 year!
Lori and Yazmarie are still matched. In October, the Beyond School Walls topic had them work on
goal setting
.
Lori inspired Yazmarie to set a
big
goal
for herself this school year:
- Receive no more behavior referrals for the rest of the year!
- Lori encouraged Yazmarie with suggestions, ideas, and advice about spending time with the right friends, staying calm, and making the good decisions.
UPDATE:
Since then Yazmarie has not received any behavior related infractions at school. The pair starts every Beyond School Walls session with a big hug and encouraging words. Yazmine says "I always enjoy time with Lori because I feel as if I'm being guided in the right direction and I'm becoming a
great example
for my friends to follow.
