Outings with Marviceia
Marviceia was Claire's little sister through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami organization from 2007 - 2009.
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Match of the Month - August 2008

At first glance, Marviceia and I may appear to be very different; however, since we were first matched in January 2007, we are continuously discovering just how much we have in common. Over the past year and a half, we have enjoyed many fun outings and activities together, including bowling, cooking, watching movies, playing tennis, coloring, swimming, picking strawberries, and playing board games. We also love going to the park, listening to music, eating our favorite foods, and talking about our families. In addition to enjoying our common interests, we take pleasure in sharing new experiences and teaching each other new things. Marviceia carved her first pumpkin with me and learned how to create a web page, and she has taught me how to make fried chicken and has given me some much needed dance lessons.
Marviceia is a bright, caring, humorous, and imaginative 8-year old with an incredible zest for life. She is always anxiously awaiting my arrival when I pick her up for an outing and greets me with big hug. For me, one of the highlights of our relationship was when Marviceia and her mom invited me to their house for a cookout and I had the opportunity to meet her wonderful family. Marviceia's home is full of love and laughter and it is clear by meeting her family why she is such a happy, loving, and free-spirited girl.
Although Marviceia and I enjoy entertaining activities during our outings, our relationship has a deeper purpose. We challenge each other to talk about and work on improving our weaknesses. For example, I try to encourage Marviceia to be more outgoing and independent, as she tends to be shy around people she does not know and sometimes prefers for me to do things for her that she could do herself. She has definitely come a long way since we first met and has become more confident and willing to try things on her own. We also encourage each other to be proud of our strengths and accomplishments. For instance, we celebrated an excellent report card with an ice cream treat. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Marviceia’s favorite subject in school is science and she wants to be a scientist someday. I know that Marviceia has the ambition and ability to achieve whatever she sets out to do, and I encourage her to reach for her dreams and goals, no matter how big or small.
Being a Big Sister has been an amazing experience and much more rewarding than I could have imagined. I do not consider my time with Marviceia as volunteering, as I get to do things I might not otherwise do as an adult, like go to the playground, color, and play Go Fish. Not only does Marviceia make me feel like a kid again, but she has also taught me that positive influences can come from unexpected places and helps me stay focused on what is truly important in life. I can not thank BBBS enough for taking our personalities and passions into consideration to make us a perfect match.
Marviceia is a bright, caring, humorous, and imaginative 8-year old with an incredible zest for life. She is always anxiously awaiting my arrival when I pick her up for an outing and greets me with big hug. For me, one of the highlights of our relationship was when Marviceia and her mom invited me to their house for a cookout and I had the opportunity to meet her wonderful family. Marviceia's home is full of love and laughter and it is clear by meeting her family why she is such a happy, loving, and free-spirited girl.
Although Marviceia and I enjoy entertaining activities during our outings, our relationship has a deeper purpose. We challenge each other to talk about and work on improving our weaknesses. For example, I try to encourage Marviceia to be more outgoing and independent, as she tends to be shy around people she does not know and sometimes prefers for me to do things for her that she could do herself. She has definitely come a long way since we first met and has become more confident and willing to try things on her own. We also encourage each other to be proud of our strengths and accomplishments. For instance, we celebrated an excellent report card with an ice cream treat. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Marviceia’s favorite subject in school is science and she wants to be a scientist someday. I know that Marviceia has the ambition and ability to achieve whatever she sets out to do, and I encourage her to reach for her dreams and goals, no matter how big or small.
Being a Big Sister has been an amazing experience and much more rewarding than I could have imagined. I do not consider my time with Marviceia as volunteering, as I get to do things I might not otherwise do as an adult, like go to the playground, color, and play Go Fish. Not only does Marviceia make me feel like a kid again, but she has also taught me that positive influences can come from unexpected places and helps me stay focused on what is truly important in life. I can not thank BBBS enough for taking our personalities and passions into consideration to make us a perfect match.