Little Scarlett and Big Crystal have been matched in the Community-based mentoring program since July 2018. Scarlett and her family moved to Colorado Springs to escape an unsafe situation in their home state of Washington and her mother is raising her and her three siblings. Scarlett’s mother hoped that adding more adults in the lives of her children would be a positive and supportive experience for them.
Scarlett was 12 years old the day she and Crystal met. Crystal recalls that meeting Scarlett was such a joyful experience. Scarlett is incredibly social, and she was looking forward to starting high school alongside her friends. However, most of her freshman year consisted of sitting in front of her laptop at home in what felt like never-ending Zoom meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When Scarlett brought this up to Crystal, they discussed things she could do to improve her grades and have a better school experience. They talked about the importance of asking for extra help, seeking out tutoring, and getting better sleep at night.
Scarlett’s desire to finish the year strong was inspiring because she had a lot working against her. She was very proud that she set her mind on something and saw the results of her hard work. Scarlett and Crystal celebrated her achievement in true Crystal/Scarlett style, with tacos and guacamole.
Scarlett is now a junior in high school and becoming more independent. She started her first job at Taco Bell, opened a savings account, and has started driving. Scarlett has a solid group of friends who she regularly hangs out with and who she can count on. While Scarlett’s social life has picked up and she has become busier balancing school and work, she and Crystal have remained in touch and still schedule outings whenever their schedules allow. She loves going to the movies, and they celebrated their 4-year Sisterversary (as they like to call it) with dinner and a trip to the movies to see the latest installment of Jurassic Park.
Crystal shares, “Scarlett is expressive and thoughtful. She is a very good friend, and she is sought out for advice regularly in her peer group. She is always looking for people who need help and kindness, and she has a love of animals and people alike. She has a big heart and wisdom beyond her years. She maintains a positive outlook on life even though her past experiences have not always been positive. She carries a lot of hope with her, and her joy and laughter are contagious. She is an inspiration and a true gift to me and I am so grateful to be matched with her.”
To our supporters, Crystal says, “I met Scarlett when she was only 12 years old, and it has been such a joy to watch her grow and mature over these last 4 years. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado program is a way for the community to come together, and I have seen it impact Scarlett’s family as well as my own. It is an incredible opportunity to be a consistent presence in each other’s lives, even as life ebbs and flows. Knowing that this relationship is solid and can be counted on is a true blessing. Thank you so much for helping to make this possible.”