Above any academic, athletic, family, or other community decisions I have made in my life, the decision to join the Big Brother Big Sister program is my proudest. I was matched with a Little Brother through BBBS on April 15, 2015. I've been rewarded constantly since that day. I get to have at least a small impact on a kid's life. Regardless of what's going on in my life, my relationship with my Little is still there. The impact on a Big's life and the impact on a Little's life together are so worth it for anyone to be part of.

What is BBBS?

The Big Brothers Big Sisters mission statement is: "provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever."

That's a pretty good summary of the program, honestly. It's pretty easy to apply to be a Big, and assuming someone can pass the screening process, the next step is to let the program match them with a Little Brother or Sister. Once someone is matched, they get to work with their Little and his/her family to set up times to hang out every week or every month or however often. A Big essentially gets free reign over what to do with their Little. I've done things with my Little like play catch, go to the mall, play video games, go out to eat, and lots of other activities. I've watched him play in his school band and in basketball games, and just last week I got to see him in his first ever football game.

Time and money are not an issue.

I'm not really required to do anything, and no one ever expects me to provide time, money or guidance unless I volunteer those things. It's nice to have the lack of pressure, but it's even nicer to keep the Big-Little relationship going strong. I take my Little out to eat because I choose to do so. I attend his events because I want to. I spend the amount of time with him that I seek out. I probably spend an average of a couple hours a week with him, but there are periods of time when I don't see him for a while, as well as times when I spend more than a couple hours a week with him.

There's no chance you regret it.

I know I don't. I've developed a real relationship with a kid I otherwise would have never known. He hasn't ever had a father figure. I can't speak to how exactly he views me, but just knowing he gets an older role model to look up to and talk to and spend time with kind of makes me feel good about myself. And more than anything, it makes me happy for him. His mom and grandparents are so happy because of the two of us being matched. It's just a win all the way around. Every pairing would be different, but in any case everyone involved wins. And there are so many great opportunities. BBBS often gets deals at restaurants and venues and events, so I'm emailed really cool offers for tickets and coupons I could use with my Little. I even got a call from BBBS saying my Little and I were chosen for a set of tickets to the Hawkeye Football Homecoming game this season. We'll get a tour of Kinnick, including locker rooms and everything, and we'll be announced on the field either before the game or at halftime. Plus, the night before the game, he and I will walk with other matches in the Homecoming parade. Just thinking about how excited he's going to be through the whole experience is such a satisfying and happy feeling. Obviously that's a huge event in the grand scheme of things. After that game, though, nothing's going to change in our relationship. I'll continue to be rewarded, and hopefully he'll continue to gain from our relationship, too.

In an ideal world, I'd love to see anyone with a decent heart and just a little time to spare become a part of BBBS. I think it's such a great way to improve lives - a Little's life, his/her family's life, the Big's life, and anyone else's life connected to the match. The program might not be for everyone but for anyone it's at least worth finding out more about. BBBS has changed my Little's life, my life, and so many other lives across the country. If you happen to be interested in the program or even maybe in joining, you can find out more about it on the BBBS website.