Mock Profile

When you think about the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, what comes to mind is young adolescents looking for a role model to teach and guide them. Someone for them to look up to and to show them somebody cares.

Meg Scheibel, a senior at High Point University, seems to think otherwise.

Scheibel has been in the organization since her freshman year at High Point University. She first got interested in Big Brothers Big Sisters when all of her friends began to get a "little", which is what the younger child in the relationship is called. She wanted something to occupy her time since she no longer had any sports to attend to after school. She thought that becoming a "big" would be a good way to get involved and help someone in need.

But her intentions seemed to take a complete 180.

"When I signed up to be a big in the organization, I expected that I would be teaching the child," Scheibel stated last week, "when in fact my little is the one who seems to be my teacher."

Scheibel's little in the program is a young 4th grade boy named Michael. They have been big and little since Meg came to North Carolina 4 years ago.  When she first started in the program, she thought she fit the role of big sister because she was the mature role model. But Michael has shown her just how much growing up she also has to do.

"While I pass on my 22 years of experience to Michael, he reminds me of how much I, myself, still have to learn."

Being a big is a learning experience for both. "When you have a little, you have a companionship where you feed off each other and put things in a different perspective. You enlighten each other to different possibilities and ways of thinking," she says. "having Michael as a little has taught me discipline. He's a a really smart kid on the honor roll and his work ethic has rubbed off on me. His passion to learn has driven me to try harder in college."

When they first got paired together, Scheibel was unsure of Michael's thoughts about her.

"For a bit Michael seemed distant and uninterested when I came to visit him." said Scheibel. "I found it hard to get him to open up to me. I got the feeling he wished he was matched up with a guy."

But Michael surprised her.

"There was one week that first year that I was unable to make it in to see him but I didn't think he would care," She said. "Turns out he cared. He cared a whole bunch. He had been asking everyone all day if I was coming in." She continued, "When I arrived the next week, he jumped up from his chair and sprinted over to me looking thrilled that I came back in to see him. I didn't realize I meant so much to him after only a couple months of knowing each other."

Since then, Scheibel has noticed a huge change in their relationship. They've connected on a whole new ground and actually have a lot in common, especially a love for running. "Michael loves to run, and he's really fast so it makes sense," states meg. "Ever since I told him I ran track and field in high school he always challenges me to a race. He has yet to beat me. But that's what he likes, he likes the challenge."

Being in Big Brothers Big Sisters is an experience that takes you on a journey towards a life long friendship. Scheibel says Michael's youth reminds her of her childhood and shows her how to let the small, every day things make you happy. "His excitement over such minuscule things has reminded me not to take life for granted and to cherish every day," states Meg. "I'm not getting and younger so it's best to enjoy the time I have."

Scheibel has enjoyed spending these four years with Michael and wouldn't trade him for any other kid. But as her college career comes to a close, so does her time with Michael. "It is sad to know that I'll be leaving him but I know I have had a lasting effect on him just as he has on me." She knows that in the future they will reunite. She will never forget Michael and looks forward to seeing his success in the future.