Adrianna and Betsy

Betsy and Adrianna have been matched in our program since December 2015. While Adrianna is a naturally energetic and open girl,  she struggled with her self esteem and had difficulty forming healthy, mutually supportive peer relationships. Trust was an issue for Adrianna; she felt as though she did not have a close friend who she knew would be there for her unconditionally. She occasionally became frustrated in her interactions with peers, leading her to act out. Adrianna’s mother and teacher agreed that she could benefit from a stable and consistent friendship. That’s where Betsy and BBBS came in.

Betsy had been a ‘fan of the program’ for a long time, and decided to become a Big Sister after her children were out of the house. Betsy and Adrianna were matched through our school based program, and Betsy began to visit Adrianna at school once a week. While Adrianna was enthusiastic and open to Betsy right away, she was hesitant to fully trust her in the beginning. She became worried when Betsy would leave after spending time with her and needed to be reminded of Betsy’s dedication to their relationship. However, over time, Betsy was able to show to Adrianna the meaning of unconditional friendship.

During their time together, the pair have gotten to know each other through doing activities like arts and crafts, games, and sports. Betsy has been able to spend time with Adrianna as well as her peers, providing Adrianna with a sense of security within her school environment. Betsy also encourages Adrianna to take advantage of her school’s resources; the pair often spend time reading in the school’s media center or playing sports in the school gym. To encourage Adrianna’s natural intelligence and creativity, Betsy worked with her to create a new game that the pair could play together.

In the time that they’ve been matched the pair has grown close and developed a strong friendship. They have been able to talk about important life lessons together such as doing well in school and getting along with others.

We at BBBS are excited to say that Betsy and Adrianna recently transitioned from a school based match to a community based match, so now they will be continuing to grow through friendship outside of school. We are all looking forward to the new adventures Betsy and Adrianna will share!

​We want to particularly thank Betsy for serving as our featured speaker for our Fall Evening with Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser last weekend. At the event, Betsy shared about her  experience being a Big Sister, revealing a clear passion and devotion for her relationship with Adrianna.