John helps Andrew build his confidence.
Margaret recognized that her son Andrew needed the steady influence of a man in his life, even though Andrew, an only child, enjoyed a healthy relationship with his mom—a former soldier in the U.S. Army and now a cook at the Naval Academy. Andrew’s dad died when he was only 9-years-old. That is when Margaret called Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Big Brothers Big Sisters found the perfect match when they paired Andrew with John, an insurance broker. John first became interested in Big Brothers Big Sisters through a colleague who was a board member of the local organization. According to John, “It’s more than what I hoped for, it’s one of the best things in my life and I highly recommend it to others.” John, the product of a single Mom household, understood the importance he could have in Andrew’s life.
John and Andrew frequently hike the paths and trails surrounding where they live. Little Brother Andrew, a self-proclaimed science buff, can name just about every tree and plant—including being able to identify which trees and plants are native. With John’s help, Andrew even became one of the few Boy Scouts in the country to complete every activity in his handbook.
According to Margaret, she has seen a remarkable change in Andrew since his first meeting with John. “I understand that at age 11 Andrew is still finding himself. However, he is communicating much better and is more confident when speaking.” Andrew has even decided he wants to follow in his parent’s footsteps and join the military one day.
Margaret is grateful that Andrew has respect for John and what he says. The most important endorsement comes from Andrew himself who says, “… we will be friends forever!
