FINDING THEIR RHYTHM: TERRY & WILL

Over the past few years, Big Will and Little Terry have built the kind of match that does not need a lot of spectacle to matter. Their relationship has grown through regular time together, shared interests, and the simple trust that comes from showing up again and again. Basketball, gaming, food, music, anime, and long conversations have become the language of a friendship that feels easy, steady, and real.

The kind of consistency you can feel
Terry’s mom, Tiffany, has seen the difference from the start. She has called Will “the best big brother ever,” said he feels like a second son, and shared that Terry always looks forward to seeing him. Sometimes that excitement shows up in a funny little burst of responsibility. In one recent check-in, Tiffany said she can always tell Terry is about to see Will because he suddenly starts caring about chores and getting ready. That kind of anticipation says a lot. This is not just an outing on the calendar. It is someone he counts on.

More than basketball
Basketball has always been one of their constants. They have spent hours playing together, walking to the park, finding ways to stay active, and using the game as both an outlet and a meeting ground. But the match has never been only about what they do. It is also about what those outings make room for. Terry once said mental health is about “his emotions and feelings,” and when he needs a break, he plays basketball or goes for a walk. Will has met him there, in motion, in conversation, in the ordinary places where trust can grow without too much pressure.

A friend for four years
When asked what award he would give his Big, Terry answered with something beautifully direct: he would give Will an award for being his friend consistently for “3 to 4 years now.” That line gets at the heart of this story. Terry has said he enjoys having someone to get out of the house with. He has also said what he likes about Will is simple: “He is a cool friend to hang out with.” In a world that pushes young men to stay guarded, there is something powerful about a friendship that feels this dependable.

Learning how to show care
Will has been honest in match support about what he hopes to model. He wants Terry to know it matters for men to be emotionally vocal, to ask questions, to care out loud. He knows Terry does not always show that in the same way yet, but he also knows how much Terry’s excitement reveals. A shared meal, a new band, a plan to see a concert, a video to show him, a little more openness than before. Over time, those things have added up. This match has helped both of them better understand the kind of people they want to be.

Maybe that is what Will and Terry have found here: not just shared interests, but a steady friendship built on care, curiosity, and time. Terry gets one more safe adult in his corner as he prepares to graduate this spring. Will gets the ongoing gift of learning the power of showing up for someone consistently. That is why mentoring matters in 2026. It is social infrastructure. It is connection strong enough to shape who a young person believes they can become. 

​Find it here. Become a Big.