KeShon and Yasmine - Match of the Month

KeShon and Yasmine have been matched for 6 years.  KeShon’s mother enrolled her when she was 12 because she wanted her to have more diverse experiences. She wanted a Big who could support her with being active, having a healthy lifestyle, education, and career choices.  They have been able to focus on all those things, plus more, in their years of being matched. 

Yasmine signed up to be a Big Sisters after moving here to work on her PhD. Her older sister, her role model, had recently become a Big, and Yasmine was inspired by her commitment.  She wanted to do something to give back to the community, but also thought it would be a great way to learn about the community.

When KeShon and Yasmine were first matched, some of their favorite activities would be to do different arts and crafts. They would come up with ideas together or find them on Pinterest.  They also enjoyed baking cookies and other sweets to share with each other, get frozen yogurt, volunteer, walk outside, play volleyball, or walk around the mall together. As KeShon has gotten older, getting frozen yogurt is always a go-to favorite activity and just chatting and spending time together, maybe over a movie at Yasmine’s house, or both catching up on work and homework while in Yasmine’s lab.
KeShon was a little quieter and shy when they were first matched, but that has definitely changed! As their relationship has grown, so has KeShon’s confidence.  These days as KeShon works and Yasmine is finishing up graduate school, scheduling can be difficult, but they try to keep in touch via text in between visits.

Yasmine says some of her most memorable moments have been "all the times I’ve been able to celebrate KeShon with her family! From her 8th grade graduation, going to some of her track/cross country meets, watching her perform on the dance team in high school, being at her sweet seventeen birthday party to most recently sending her off to her high school prom!

What I love about our match is first how long we have been able to grow our relationship and I’ve been able to see KeShon blossom from a quiet pre-teen to a young adult about to start college! I love that we can always be ourselves with each other, and that KeShon keeps me hip with all the newest lingo and dances. I’ve also loved not only getting to know KeShon, but her whole family and feeling so welcomed!"

We want to congratulate KeShon on her recent high school graduation.  Unfortunately, their match will close through BBBS, but we know that they will always be connected to one another and I’m sure their relationship will continue to grow and flourish!