Big Brother Big Sister Mentoring Program

The Big Brother Big Sister program emphasizes the importance of providing a meaningful mentoring relationship to children who may not have the opportunity for one otherwise. Children benefit from a mentor invested in their future success but attaining a meaningful mentoring relationship is multi-faceted. This project examined two research articles about the Big Brother Big Sister program related to expectations and closure with mentoring relationships and the subsequent impact on youth. This analysis was also compared to the authors’ own experiences with mentoring. Findings indicated that youth and adults had different expectations regarding the mentoring relationships - with youth emphasizing self-sufficiency and “having fun.” The end of the mentoring relationship also played a significant role in the child’s life and perception of the program. The research shows a side of mentoring that is more implicit than just a cursory relationship, and these social interactions can be crucial to children’s growth