Spotlighting Sarah
Sarah shines as a GLOW program mentor. A long-term volunteer, Sarah has been a Big Sister, an In-School Mentor and most recently, a GLOW program mentor.
Originally, Sarah began volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters because she wanted to encourage transformational growth in young lives: “I wanted to spend my time volunteering in ways that make impact on others and to help them grow in a healthy and supportive environment,” she says.
And since, Sarah has become a positive role model for many young people through multiple sessions of the GLOW program. GLOW stands for Girls Linking our Worlds. The program is designed for elementary-aged youth who identify as girls and focuses on: Empowerment, Leadership development; Helping its participants feel confident in all aspects of their identity. Each session has up to 15 participants.
“Sarah takes the time to get to know all the girls in her group. She goes above and beyond, finding unique and fun ways to motivate the girls,” says Case Manager, Kayla Lockey. “She builds trust with mentees by remembering their names and things they’ve shared with her,” Lockey says, adding, “This makes mentees feel comfortable.”
Being a volunteer mentor has brought plenty of joy to Sarah’s life. “I can’t express the happiness watching my mentees grow! The past few years as a mentor have allowed me to create a safe space for my mentees where I have watched them develop healthy boundaries and find their voices. Mentoring means creating a safe space for these mentees to grow and learn about themselves – which is such a rewarding experience and feeling.”
For Sarah, a highlight of being a volunteer mentor is the excitement on the mentees faces when she sees them weekly. The participants come with lots of enthusiasm and stories to share, which Sarah describes as great. An added bonus is watching mentees grow. “When I see the mentees for more than one session, I get to see them age out of the program,” Sarah says.
Sarah would encourage others to get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters because: “it is such a fulfilling experience and you will not regret giving your time to young people who are ALWAYS happy to see you,” she says, adding, “the relationships that you develop are unmatched!”
Thank you for your commitment, dedication and impact as a volunteer mentor, Sarah. We are lucky to have you.
