A Big Buddy Shares Mentor Experience

[VMP Webmaster]

"I became a Big Buddy my first year at UVM to an 8-year-old boy named Jay who lived in the north end of Burlington. He came from a very poor family who had never been to college, and his self-confidence was really low because he had never been told that he was good at anything. I got together with him every single week for 3 hours, for my entire 4 years of school. We spent our time playing games, hiking, doing art projects, or going to an occasional special place like a museum or to the movies.

After I graduated from UVM in 1999, I moved out to Seattle, so Josh and I kept up via snail mail, and eventually by e-mail. He attended my wedding back in Vermont when he was in junior high. Every year when I returned to visit my family we would get together, usually at Ben and Jerry’s over ice cream! This past winter we met again and he is a freshman at college. He still writes me updates about his classes, girlfriends, and college life. I know that his experience with Big Buddies, being on campus, and being given as much encouragement and hope as I could provide, greatly influenced his ability and decision to attend college. He is planning to become a physical therapist. During the summers he works at a community center and is a role model for younger kids. His belief in himself and his confidence in his future is inspiring.

I know some days it may be overwhelming to have the responsibility of being a Big Buddy. It may seem like it would be easier to stay on campus and work on homework or visit with friends. I used to spend two hours taking the bus to the north end in the bitter winter to hang out for barely enough time for a board game and get to deal with his screaming father, but in the end it was all worth it. Big Buddies changed my life significantly as I now have this beautiful young man who looks up to me, and whom I am incredibly proud of. I can only guess how much it has already changed Jay’s life."

Beth Chapman Hood, UVM Alum 1999