Meet Big Brother Raffi and Big Sister Sophie. Not only are they both mentors in our Community-Based Mentoring program, but they’re also real-life siblings!
Raffi was the first to start his journey with BBBS. He heard about BBBS when he was a freshman at Creighton University. “I thought it would be a great way to get involved in the community through service, but I didn’t have a car yet. Once I got a car going into my junior year, I signed up right away and got matched in October of 2024.”
For Raffi, becoming a mentor was about being the kind of role model every young person deserves. “Working with kids is fun and is a form of service that isn’t just routine,” he said. “It makes a direct impact in a young person’s life, and I feel like that’s such a valuable thing I could offer.”
Sophie was inspired to join after seeing the impact firsthand through her brother. “It was so cool to see him take his Little out and hear about the fun things they did together,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed working with kids, and the opportunity to build a meaningful mentorship and friendship with a child in my community really stood out to me. I wanted to give back in a way that’s genuine, fun, and rewarding for both of us.”
Learn more about their match experiences below.
What is something your Little has taught you?
Raffi: Overall, through this program, I have learned to listen much better. It takes younger people longer to collect their thoughts and put them together coherently, but if you give them time, it’s actually remarkable how smart they are. I would say I am a very outgoing person and like to talk a lot, but through this, I have learned to slow down and listen to what others have to say much more when conversing.
Sophie: She has reminded me how important it is to find joy in the little things and to stay present. Her curiosity and enthusiasm make even simple activities more fun, and it’s been a great reminder not to take those moments for granted.
What has been your favorite thing about your match?
Raffi: Honestly, just doing fun things that you used to do as a kid, but don't tend to do as much as a young adult. Activities like going to the park and playing catch, hitting baseballs, or going to an arcade. It's just good fun all around. My Little really likes sports and activities, so that is what we do most. He’s super big into baseball, so I go to the cages with him, and we go to Memorial Park to play catch or go sledding. I also taught him how to catch and pass with a lacrosse stick in 30 minutes, which was really impressive for an 8-year-old using an adult lacrosse stick.
Sophie: My favorite thing about my match is getting to spend time with my Little Sister. We really are a great pair and share a lot of the same interests. No matter how simple our outings are, they’re always fun and give us another chance to learn more about each other. We enjoy getting ice cream, going to parks around town, and we recently went to the Luminarium, which was a blast! We are planning to go to the zoo soon!
What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming a mentor?
Raffi: I would start off by answering any questions they have about the program. If the person thinks it sounds fun, I would give them contacts in the program to talk to and tell them it's way more rewarding than normal service and that you can make a direct, long-lasting impact on a person’s life.
Sophie: I would encourage anyone who is thinking about becoming a mentor to just do it! It is one of the best choices I have made, and I am so happy to be a part of such a great organization!
What do you think are some misconceptions about mentoring?
Raffi: The biggest misconceptions with being a mentor are that you must act like you’re constantly giving the child advice or that you are their therapist. You are not at all. Being a mentor in the program just means that you do activities and have fun with them, and if they have any questions at all, you answer honestly. It's honestly just being a good role model and older person to look up to. Also, some people think it’s like a huge time commitment when it's not at all.
Sophie: I think a common misconception is that mentoring requires having all the answers or doing something big and extraordinary. In reality, it’s about simply showing up, being consistent, and building a genuine relationship; it’s those small moments that really make the biggest impact.
How has this match impacted you?
Raffi: This match has made me understand patience and listening to others so much more. It has made me understand that the small things that I do every day have a large impact not only on the child I am mentoring and working with, but also on his family.
Sophie: Even though we were just matched in February, this experience has already been incredibly meaningful. It’s given me something to look forward to each week and reminded me how impactful simply showing up can be. Getting to know her has been so fun, and I’m excited to continue building our relationship.
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