As a kid, I looked up to almost everyone older than me. I was inspired by others, and the company of older kids made me happy. These experiences led to great memories and friendships.

In the past year, I’ve had a chance to pay that forward. The club Big 2 Little has allowed me to help kids, and make them happy, just like others did to me.

Every Wednesday after school, students take a bus and travel to one of two schools in North Chicago, Evelyn Alexander School and Forestal School.

At the schools, members of the club (the Bigs) spread out across different classrooms and assist kids (the Littles) from kindergarten to around third grade with their homework, class activities, and discussions. 

While this may sound like work students do just to complete service hours, working with these students is a truly special experience.

“The connections that the Bigs and Littles make every single year are just something that everybody needs to see and hopefully a lot of people can be a part of,” said counselor and club leader Mr. Panfil.

As the year progresses and we grow to know the students, they become extremely welcoming and excited.

I can remember my first day of Big 2 Little; I had no idea what I was supposed to do, or if the Littles would like me. However, the second I stepped into a class I saw kids from almost every table signaling to me to come and sit with them. I sat down and immediately the kids were pacing around their tables asking me silly questions like: “Are you a teenager?” and “Do you have your own phone?” 

I was extremely surprised with how fascinated the kids were with me and how little effort it took to talk and connect with them. 

“You guys are their role models,” Panfil said. “It’s so obvious the respect level that they have for you guys.” 

The Littles would also tell me things about themselves and help me learn about who they are. 

Multiple times kids would ask me to guess their name, and once I did, they would go on and tell me more about themselves without me even asking. I’ve had kids tell me that their cousin plays in the NFL, or that they won their game of hide and seek during recess. 

Throughout the rest of my first year participating in Big 2 Little, I stayed in this same classroom, at the same exact table. The friends that I made meant a lot to me and made me want to keep coming back to see them.

During this time, I got to know many of the kids, including three boys I worked closely with. Two of them  had a lot to share with me when I came. They would show me their toys, ask for my help when doing class labs, and even fight over my name tag when I was leaving each Wednesday. 

One boy, however, was often quiet and had trouble paying attention during class. The teacher would often give him books to read on the side while the class did activities. I talked to him on the side during class sometimes and learned that he loved animals and enjoyed reading and looking at them.

One day, the class was doing a lab and this boy didn’t want to participate. However, after explaining and showing to him that the lab was about making animals out of various materials, he joined in. He and I worked together to create his favorite animal, a giraffe, out of pipe cleaners and Play-Doh. 

At the end of that day, he offered me the giraffe. 

Telling him to keep it, I could tell that he was happy, and I got to see him smile for one of the first times that year. 

Experiences like this have made Big 2 Little very special to me. Making kids smile has been an amazing feeling that I have gotten to have through the club, and has resulted in many great memories. 

Big 2 Little is a service club that feels nothing like service. It is an enjoyable experience, and the service is just an added benefit to the fun and good times that you have with the kids. 

“There’s excitement on the bus. People rehashing what they did that day and telling stories about their Little,” Panfil said. “That stuff’s all really important and meaningful.”

While Big 2 Little can affect you with service and future academic opportunities, it can also affect you as a person, and provide you and younger kids with memories and experiences that are well worth your time.