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During 2018 I had volunteered at Buffalo schools within M&T’s Buffalo Promise Neighborhood before deciding to become a mentor through BBBS.  Seeing the excitement in the children’s eyes and having them run up to greet you when we would show up and give you a hug when you left was such a great feeling!  Besides the bliss that come along with seeing a smile on a child’s face, I also decided to be a mentor to be a positive role model and a constant in a child’s life that needed it. 

My little sister, Ciraha and I were matched around Thanksgiving.  Ciraha is 6 and loves to color, drink hot chocolate, play games and make arts and crafts.  Whenever I pick her up she always has such a big smile and is ready for anything that we have planned! She is curious about everything, has such a great memory, and is a very smart first grader.  When we hang out it seems like time flies.  During our last hang out I brought a craft that we could work on.  Ciraha said it was soo much fun and mentioned numerous times how it was such a fun craft! We made a koala that she named Sprinkles, after the donut with sprinkles that she had just ate.

Mentoring has been such a great experience.  I had contemplated becoming a mentor for the last 10 years, however my schedule didn’t allow me to give a child the commitment they deserve. Ciraha is such a blessing that I feel my decision to become a mentor at this time in my life was meant to be.  I leave each hang out excited for what the next one will bring.  I look forward to seeing Ciraha grow up and being there with her on this journey.