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TESTIMONIES FROM BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE UPSTATE
#MatchMonday
Board Member/Big Brother Paul Dorsch and Little Brother Azariel
Happy #MatchMonday! Today we share with you an inspiring story of Board Member/Big Brother Paul Dorsch and Little Brother Azariel. The relationship between this special Big and Little has continued to grow, gaining valuable lessons along the way.
Big Brother Paul Dorsch reflects on the time spent with Little Brother Azariel, “Azariel has come such a long way in a relatively short period of time, especially with not being able to meet face-to-face for the first three months (May-August). Aza has recently come to trust me more and more. He also has come to trust my wife, who has accepted him in a caring yet ‘instructor’ type of role. My favorite line she uses on Aza when he tries to come up with excuses for not doing something is, ‘Is it skill or is it will?’ and he inevitably says, ‘Will.’ He knows he has the skill, and we keep reminding him of that.”
Big Brother Paul Dorsch has also been able to impart valuable lessons such as hard work, accountability and confidence in order to help Little Brother Azariel grow. Paul says, “One of the first things we did on Face Time was I showed him the various bird feeders we have around the yard. His job now when he comes over is to first fill the bird feeders, for which he receives $5 (responsibility=reward). And, that’s the first thing he does – jumps out of the truck and runs to the garage to get birdseed. The second is to come inside to the kitchen table to ‘do his work.’ I work on his confidence by asking him to help me with some sort of project – and I make it fun. I show him how to use a tool, be it a hedge trimmer, drill, hammer, etc. and then have him take over, making sure to tell him he can mess up and it’ll be okay (I tell him you can mess up hedges because it’s like a haircut- it’ll grow back). By the third bush he was getting better at it.”
Academics is another area in which this relationship has made a difference. Big Brother Paul Dorsch shares, “We found early on that Aza’s writing skills are more a second/third grade level. At 14 and in ninth grade, that needed to change. We bought him a workbook with guidelines, and he has to spend 30 minutes practicing before we go do something fun. He has improved greatly – when he takes his time.”
Finally, Big Brother Paul Dorsch shares, “ I enjoy my time with Aza and look forward to it whenever possible. I have a great support cast that allows me to expose him to a farm (where he can feed the animals and drive a field buggy), computer games, and culinary interests. Last night he called and asked if he could bake cookies with my wife during our time tomorrow. And to that I said ABSOLUTELEY! – after you’re done with your work.”
Like Big Brother Paul Dorsch, you can help defend the potential of at-risk youth in our community today.
Know a LITTLE who needs a BIG? Sign up here: https://bbbsupstate.com/enroll-a-child/
Want to become a BIG yourself? Sign up here: https://bbbsupstate.com/get-involved/