Byron Pulsifer once said “Consistency is one of the biggest factors in leading to accomplishment and success.” For Elly, consistency has been hard to come by in her short life. Her Mom, a single parent, has been incarcerated on several occasions, and Elly has spent significant parts of her life moving in and out of various apartments, with various caretakers. Elly’s Mother saw her struggling in school, and having trust issues, and she wanted her child to have a chance for a better future. She was familiar with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and thought a mentor could be the key to unlocking Elly’s potential.

At 8-years-old, Elly’s Mother enrolled her in Big Brothers Big Sisters, and she was matched with Liz. Liz had recently begun attending college at Central Michigan University. While campus groups didn’t necessarily fit her interests, she knew she wanted to be involved, and thought mentoring would be a great fit. Nervous, but excited, Liz and Elly were matched, and spent their first of many outings together, enjoying hot chocolate at a local coffee shop and getting to know each other.

Liz realized from day one that Elly was guarded. It took several months for her to open up. Liz knew she needed to be patient, and kept early outings casual and brief. After a few months, however, Elly started opening up to Liz, and even asked why they didn’t get to spend more time together. As the years passed, Liz became a consistent friend in Elly’s life. They fondly recall fun times at a local indoor trampoline park, having craft nights at Liz’s apartment, watching horror movies together, and going to the park. Liz also started feeling more comfortable helping Elly with her struggles in school. Elly had never really had someone pushing her to finish her homework on time, and helping her where it was difficult. Liz was able to be that person. When the pandemic started, Liz even helped Elly setup her desk at home, giving her a distraction-free space to focus on remote learning. Liz also helped Elly embrace reading, and books can open her imagination.

Elly turned 13 in November, and she is starting to think about her future. Liz has encouraged her to dream big, regardless of the current challenges she faces. Elly recently shared with Liz that she wants to deliver babies. She loves spending time with her infant cousins, and wants to help young families get started. She also expressed a desire to have the financial security she has lacked throughout her childhood. Elly knows she either wants to be a maternity nurse or a PA. Liz has begun helping her figure out what classes she needs to take in high school, and what steps she needs to take now to make this goal a reality. She is also working with Elly to figure out the next steps for her education, and looks forward to taking her on her first campus visit in a couple of years.

What really sticks out about the relationship between Liz and Elly is the commitment Liz has made to spend time with Elly, no matter what. Liz graduated from CMU several years ago, and moved to Lansing to begin her career. Despite being over an hour apart, Liz still makes a point to see Elly just about each week, or to virtually connect with her on the weeks she’s busy. Elly’s challenges are unique for someone her age, but the commitment Liz has shown to spending time with her, and helping her overcome her daily challenges shows how deeply one caring adult can impact a child’s life, regardless of the challenges they face.