Journey has always been positive and compassionate, but during her time with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota and her match with her Big Sister, Hani Jacobson, she has blossomed into a confident person who is active in school and other clubs.
That growth prompted Hani to nominate Journey for the Little Sister of the Year award, and she is the 2024 Central Minnesota winner.
Journey and Hani have been matched for two years in the agency’s St. Cloud school-based program. When they were first matched in January 2023, they could both tell that they were going to have some likes and personality traits in common, but as their relationship has grown, it has become evident how similar they really are.
Both Hani and Journey have a fiery spirit and a compassion for others, and that spirit has helped them to build a strong friendship. Hani recognized that spirit in her Little Sister right away, but she also noticed that Journey wasn’t always fully engaged, and didn’t always have the courage to say what she was thinking. She struggled with how others expected her to act, which resulted in her not wanting to say how she felt for fear of saying the wrong thing.
Over the course of their match, Hani has watched Journey grow more confident. “It’s inspiring to see how she has learned to advocate for herself, whether in school or during our activities together,” Hani said. “This newfound confidence not only enhances her experience, but also encourages those around her.”
Not only has Journey’s newfound confidence helped her in school, it has also helped Hani and Journey’s relationship to grow. Journey is excited to share her thoughts with Hani, and she will suggest new activities for the pair to do together. Hani noticed that she seems to have a solid friend group at school, and is comfortable being herself.
As Journey has grown at school and with Hani, she has grown in her involvement outside of school as well. She is very involved at the Boys and Girls Club, and Hani said she is always excited to share the projects she is working on and what new activities she was able to try. The duo have even attended Blacklight Adventures and Summerland with other BBBS matches, and Hani said it was fun to see Journey connecting with others in such a fast-paced and fun environment.
“(Journey’s) willingness to join in and encourage others to participate reflects her growing confidence and leadership skills,” Hani said. “Her contributions at home and in the (Boys and Girls Club) show how far she has come in recognizing her abilities and the value she brings to her community.”