Emily was matched with her big sister, Carol, in 1998. Their relationship has continued nearly nine years, through Emily’s successful completion of high school and journey to college. With the absence of Emily’s father, Emily needed caring friends whom she could trust and learn to share feelings. Time spent with Carol helped her grow. Occasional activities with Carol’s husband modeled healthy relationships and communication.
One of the areas that Emily struggled with was school preparation and completing homework. Carol responded by introducing dinner/study dates. Often they chose a favorite restaurant for a meal, then lingered afterwards to study. As a business owner, Carol modeled the value of education and hard work.
By her senior year, Emily was nominated and honored as one of United Way’s 2006 Martin Luther King Student Leaders. She graduated from high school and now attends the University of Iowa where she is pursuing a double major in nursing and Spanish. Emily is an excellent example of how the Big Brothers Big Sisters program works over time to build personal assets and life skills for at-risk children