FDLIC Volunteer Takes Time to Invest in the Life of a Child
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
As the in-house copywriter for Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company, Heather Guitar spends most of her days writing letters, brochures, newsletter articles, website content, and promotional materials for the company and for her customers. However, one particular day on the job proved to be different from the rest.
"A Big Brothers Big Sisters representative came to our workplace and did a presentation," Guitar said. "I actually started crying because I was so touched by the video that was shown. It's amazing what a difference you can make in the life of a child if you only spend time with him or her."
Guitar was a middle child in a larger family growing up and understood the importance of having one-on-one time with the people who really cared about her.
"I was blessed to have mentors in youth group growing up, and I know how much I looked forward to spending time with them. ...I was a kid in a big family with lots of siblings. So I know what it's like to not get much attention. A little attention can go a long way."
She decided to sign up to be a Big Sister and be the type of mentor that she had always appreciated throughout her upbringing. Having not spent much of her own time with children, Guitar wondered if it would be difficult to find things to talk about and relate to. She quickly realized that asking the questions that received simple "yes" or "no" answers were not getting her very far. Instead, she decided to dig a bit deeper, and see what resulted.
"I started asking questions like what she'd done that weekend, and what movie she'd seen recently that she liked. I let her take the lead and tried to sprinkle in encouraging words, bits of advice, and questions that made her think about things in a positive light."
Since being matched 8 months ago, Guitar and Little Sis Christiana have gone to the library, the zoo, a coffee shop, a museum, and Mr. Gatti's. They have also spent time skating, swimming, and going out to eat together. All of these activities have proven to be eventful and fun for the two of them but Guitar said, it isn't always the activity itself that strengthens the bond between the Big and the Little.
"I've learned that it doesn't matter what we do, the important thing is just that we spend time together. I've heard it said that kids spell love T-I-M-E, and that's certainly been true with me and my Little. We do a lot of fun things together, don't get me wrong. But I think what's impressed me the most is that she appreciates each outing not so much for the activity that is planned, but because she gets to do it with me. I think that is what surprised me the most."
Guitar knows that in a society that so heavily values the principle of time, how important it is for her to spend her time building a lasting relationship with her Little, Christiana.
For more information, please call Jordan Free at 674-3102 or visit www.bbbstx.org.
Originally printed in The Abilenian, an insert in The Abilene Reporter News, August 10, 2011. Reprinted by permission of the author, Jordan Free.
