Fenton senior Katie Izzi finds purpose in work with child in Big Brothers Big Sisters
Katie Izzi tries to change the world by helping a little one at a time.
The Fenton senior is vice president of the Big Brothers Big Sisters registered student organization. She said she first got involved as a freshman.
“I got involved with the RSO first,” Izzi said. “My roommate’s older sister was the president and I’ve been in love with the organization ever since.”
She said her involvement in the group has changed her for the better.
“I was in Chicago recently and I was thinking, ‘What would I get for my little?’” She said. “I don’t know if I would have thought like that before.”
The program works as the name indicates, a big, a group member, is set up with a little, a child.
Once a match is made, a big will spend time with their little and attempt to provide a role model for their development.
BBBS President Maria Schmidtke, an Ortonville senior has also been for several years.
“Three years ago it was so small,” Schmidtke said. “I’ve watched it grow and have seen all the things we can do.”
Izzi said she is also involved with the local BBBS chapter, Big Brothers Big Sisters in the Heart of Michigan and this past summer made a one-year commitment to one little.
“I try to meet with a little at least once a week,” she said, “and if I can’t, then every other week.”
Izzi and her little spend their days together at the park, out to eat or watching movies at her apartment.
There are a few things Izzi said she tries to instill in her little.
“I try to show her how important school is and to do well in school,” she said. “I also try to teach her good manners.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides several events for children to attend, such as the Halloween party last year that drove home the significance of Schmidtke’s work.
“That was my first experience seeing a big and a little interact, just to see what we did as an RSO, seeing the work paid off and the looks on the kids faces as they interacted with their big was so worth it,” Schmidtke said.
Izzi believes her time in the organization has helped her grow not only as a person but as a leader.
“Having a little shows you how important it is to be a good influence because they are looking up to you,” Izzi said. “It is one of the best experiences of my life. It’s awesome.”
