Big Brothers / Big Sisters

As someone who isn’t that far from middle age, Diane Zielinski didn’t expect to attend pro wrestling matches or monster truck rallies. And what she really didn’t expect was to find that she would enjoy them. How did this happen to her? What’s going on?

About two and a half years ago, Diane did some soul-searching and realized that there was a small vacuum in her life. She had many friends and she enjoyed her job, but she missed the company of children.

She adores her nephews and Godsons, but they live far away and she doesn’t get to see enough of them. As she was thinking about this hole in her life, she happened to hear a public service announcement asking for volunteers for Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Intrigued, she began asking questions about Big Brothers/Big Sisters and learned that its purpose is to provide adult mentors for youngsters in single parent homes. A youngster between the ages of 6 and 17 who participates in the program gets guidance, companionship, support and new learning experiences.

Ideally, they come to realize their potential and they get to see themselves as having happy and successful futures. They do this by spending time with their Big Brother or Big Sister, usually several hours a week.

Zielinski found that there were a couple of levels of commitment open to her. She could have signed up for the School Mentor program, visiting her “Mentee” in school for an hour a week. That would have meant helping him or her with schoolwork, playing games, or having lunch together in the cafeteria.

Zielinski, however, wanted to do more. She signed up for the full program, which was a commitment of roughly three hours a week.

In most cases, that would have meant that she would soon acquire a Little Sister. However, as Zielinski looked into things, she learned that in the

Lower Shore, there was a greater need for people to adopt brothers. Young girls get placed immediately because there are many Big Sisters available.

There aren’t as many Big Brothers volunteers, so a young boy will usually have to wait a year or longer before being placed. In response to this situation, Zielinski decided to do something a little unusual. Knowing about the long wait it usually takes to place a Little Brother, and knowing that she personally adores the rough and tumble of little boys, she asked to become a Big Sister for a boy.

And that’s how Trent McKinney entered her life. He was nine when the relationship started and he’s eleven now. For Zielinski, it’s been one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling things she does.

“I really, really like spending time with him,” she says. “Also, I feel good about watching his progress in school. I don’t tutor him, but on our way to doing something, I’ll be quizzing him about what he’s learning. If he’s learning about math, I’ll give him math problems or if it’s a spelling class, I’ll give him words to spell.”

The teaching goes both ways. She’s gotten to know and love her Little Brother and has also gotten involved in the things he likes. He’s been teaching her about wrestling, and about monster truck rallies. He explains what’s going on, and now she gets to enter his world.

“I get at least as much out of this as he does,” she says. She recommends the experience to anyone who has a genuine love of children.

If you’d like to be a Big Brother or Big Sister, contact Alicia Wisniewski at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lower Eastern Shore, 410 543 2447, or e-mail her at llelam@bbbsde.org The Big Brothers Big Sisters Wish List: Answering Machine Folding Chairs Two Desk Lamps Computer, Windows 98 Donations of Non Perishable Foods for Snacks for Activities.

Search Blogs

Latest Posts

Advice for Working with a Columnist 

To summarize, unless I’ve told you otherwise in the cover letter, best practices include: answer in a timely way, make factual corrections but don’t re-write, and in most cases, it’s best not to add material.  However, I’ll value our collaboration whether you follow this advice or not! 

read more

Subscribe to Updates

About Author

Mitzi Perdue is the widow of the poultry magnate, Frank Perdue.  She’s the author of How To Make Your Family Business Last and 52 Tips to Combat Human Trafficking.  Contact her at www.MitziPerdue.com

All Articles

Strategies to Preserve Your Family Business

Strategies to Preserve Your Family Business

Strategies to Preserve Your Family BusinessOriginally from http://www.familybusinessmagazine.com/mitzi-perdue%E2%80%99s-strategies-preserve-your-company-family-businessThe widow of Frank Perdue, longtime president and CEO of Perdue Farms, offers nine suggestions on...

read more
Leadership Insights: What Made the Sheraton Hotels Grow

Leadership Insights: What Made the Sheraton Hotels Grow

Leadership Insights: What Made the Sheraton Hotels Grow WHAT MADE THE SHERATON HOTELS GROW My father, Ernest Henderson, built the Sheraton hotels from one hotel to more than 400 during his lifetime. I’d often ask him the secrets of how he did it. One of his answers...

read more
Preserve Your Values: Create an Ethical Will

Preserve Your Values: Create an Ethical Will

Preserve Your Values: Create an Ethical Will Much as I admired Frank Perdue for his success with his family poultry business, I admired him even more for his success as a family man. Since the happiness of the families you advise will depend at least as much on the...

read more
Ask About Low Sexual Desire: There Are Options!

Ask About Low Sexual Desire: There Are Options!

Ask About Low Sexual Desire: There Are Options!LOW SEXUAL DESIRE MAY OR MAY NOT BE TROUBLESOME Almost 43% of women have low sexual desire. However, unless the condition is causing a woman personal or relationship distress, low sexual desire doesn’t rise to the level...

read more
Salisbury Substance Abuse Community Center

Salisbury Substance Abuse Community Center

Salisbury Substance Abuse Community Center The man who built the sliding partition If you ever visit the Salisbury Substance Abuse Community Center (SSACC), notice the sliding partition that, when pulled shut, cuts the main hall in half. The carpentry is nicely done....

read more
Red Cross

Red Cross

Red CrossImagine something really, really terrible. It’s 3:00 a.m. and your house has just burned down. You and the family just escaped with your lives. However, your wallet, your ID, your day time clothes, your glasses, even the medications you need are smoldering...

read more