Jaliah and Julia - April Match of the Month

Jaliah is an active, talented 16-year-old, who we have had the pleasure of knowing since she first enrolled in our program with a different mentor at 8 years old. As the youngest of 7 kids, Jaliah loves having a mentor all to herself. Being able to go on an outing without her siblings is a rare opportunity and one that BBBS can provide. We matched Jaliah and Julia about a year ago just after Julia moved to Ann Arbor to complete a postdoc at the University of Michigan. As Julia was applying to become a Big, she told us that it was something she always wanted to do but that she needed to wait until the right time. Because our program requires a one year commitment, she could not sign up until she knew she would be living in one place for over a year. Therefore, when Jaliah and Julia were matched, there was clear excitement on both ends. As it turned out, each was just the right match that the other had been waiting for!
 
Watching Jaliah and Julia interact now, it is clear that they really trust each other, but it took some time for this level of comfort to build. Julia, like many of our volunteers, is an introvert, and Julia explained that their first few outings felt “awkward” at times. However, as we tell all our volunteers, this awkwardness is completely normal and to be expected. Like all relationships, it takes time and consistency to make the match work. Almost a year later, Jaliah and Julia’s relationship is thriving. Jaliah has been able to open up to Julia about her thoughts and concerns about racial tensions in our community. Because these topics are also sensitive and personal, Jaliah’s willingness to raise them demonstrates her trust in Julia, who is always ready to listen and learn about what her Little is going through.
 
When they are together, Jaliah and Julia enjoy eating sushi, being active outside, or watching movies. Furthermore, Julia is a rock climber and introduced Jaliah to the sport. Rock climbing has been an amazing way for the match to bond. When they are climbing, Jaliah and Julia take turns belaying and encouraging one another to accomplish their individual goals. While climbing can be scary and certainly physically demanding, Jaliah responds to the challenge with a sense of confidence and adventure. And because they are used to talking about their goals while climbing, Jaliah is also able to talk to Julia about her other goals for her education and career.
 
 Jaliah has also shared her interests with Julia: namely, her love of writing poetry. Jaliah is a talented emerging writer. Recently, she won a poetry contest and was accepted to present her work in Washington, DC! Congratulations to Jaliah from all of us at Big Brothers Big Sisters, and congratulations to both Julia and Jaliah on being named this month’s match of the month!