Guest Column: Successful, long-term mentoring is good for Columbia

“I never knew the power that a little bit of time and a little bit of myself would have in a kid’s life,” Tom, a Big Brother, said.

“My little brother told me he feels like he can do anything when we’re together,” Tom said. “He’s gone from skipping school to getting mostly Bs (and one A!) and really talks about school now, how much he likes it.

“He’s much more outgoing and is even starting to write down some goals. We still shoot hoops and just hang out, but now he’s doing his homework first. What a difference! I honestly envision him being ‘someone’ now — someone who someday my company would choose to employ. It’s such a personal honor to be part of that process.”

These words from Big Brother Tom are just one example of how relationships between Big Brothers and Big Sisters and the kids they mentor can help change the way children grow up in Columbia.

What possible better return could we hope for as a community?

Our priority and what differentiates Big Brothers Big Sisters is our commitment to providing long-term mentoring, which results in positive educational and social outcomes that improve kids’ chances to succeed. Earlier this year Harris Interactive conducted a national long-term study of adults who had a Big Brother or Big Sister while growing up and other children from similar backgrounds who did not participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The study found that Littles were 75 percent more likely to report having received a bachelor’s degree and 39 percent more likely to report having current household incomes of $75,000 or higher than those who did not participate in the program.

In a study just completed by the University of Missouri with our Columbia school-based mentoring program for fourth- through eighth-graders, more than 67 percent of Littles reported avoiding drugs, alcohol and juvenile delinquency. This same group reported improved relationships with family and peers, improved grades and less truancy than before they joined the program.

Shelli Adams, a former principal at Lange Middle School, said: “I saw daily the difference Big Brothers and Big Sisters made in the lives of students last school year. These relationships made a positive impact on the lives of students, both at school and in the community. On a personal note, I am also a Big Sister to a wonderful girl and have seen her grow so much as the year goes along. The work of BBBS is incredibly important to the children of Columbia.”

January is National Mentoring Month, a time when Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri celebrates its Bigs and pays tribute to our donors. It’s also a time when many parents get their children signed up. We expect that to be especially true this January with economic circumstances creating a greater need for more families to have professionally backed, long-term mentoring support.

For more information about how you can support the big dreams of Columbia’s children by becoming a mentor, to make a donation or to learn about recent studies, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri at 874-3677 or visit our Web site, www.bigsofcentralmo.org.

Georgalu Swoboda is the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri.