Subhead or Caption: While Big Brothers Big Sisters has an influxof student volunteers, the organization is specifically looking formore older volunteers like Shasky and Frazier
Students, faculty serving as mentors to local youth
Telecommunications professor Jim Shasky has at least six Emmys,but they mean nothing to him now because of a 12-year-old boy.
Shasky suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, asdoes his match, 12-year-old Andy Mitchell of Hartford City. Shaskysaid he never had much patience until he got involved with the BigBrothers Big Sisters four months ago, but he said he and Mitchellare helping each other grow up.
"He's the best thing that's ever happened to me," Shasky said."He has given me a whole new perspective on life. I've won allthese Emmys (as a television producer and director) and things, butthey don't mean anything to me now."
Shasky is just one of many Ball State faculty members andstudents who are involved with the organization. According toexecutive director Taryn Poti, Ball State students make up about 80percent of the Delaware Co. chapter of Big Brothers BigSisters.
Poti said she believes the large number of student volunteerscan be attributed to the organization's youthful image. She saidBBBS has tried in recent years to recruit more college studentsbecause of the educational focus they tend to pass on and the widerange of opportunities that are offered on campus.
Senior linebacker Lorenzo Scott of the football team and juniorforward Kate Endress of the women's basketball team both joined theorganization about a year ago.
"It doesn't seem like a volunteer activity," Endress said. "It'sa great chance for me to be a kid again. We (Endress and LittleSister Lilita Jackson) have a great time. I feel like we'redefinitely friends; it's not a parent-daughter relationship."
Assistant Director of Student Organizations and Activities TerryFrazier is matched with 12-year-old Adam Moore from the south sideof Muncie.
Frazier, while in college, joined a fraternity that encouragedphilanthropic work. He said he thought it would only be fair tokeep volunteering when he got out into the real world, especiallysince he often advises students to participate in suchorganizations in his professional life.
"I get to do a lot of neat things, and I'm a firm believer ingiving back to the community," Frazier said. "It really helps meappreciate some of the things we take for granted as a kid."
Frazier said that Moore "lives in a houseful of women," so hedoesn't often get to do the activities most adolescent boys do forrecreation.
That's where Frazier comes in.
"(Adam has) never been to a pro-baseball or football game," hesaid. "I'm trying to arrange that now. It's nice to know I may beable to expand his horizons of where he has been. I try to give hima new experience each month."
They play basketball together during the summer and usually hitthe weight room now and then. They also saw Bill Cosby when he cameto Emens Auditorium in February and got to meet him after the show,when Moore received an autographed hat from the sitcom legend.
Big Brothers Big Sisters has fought misconceptions over theyears. People think that the children are disadvantaged. Othersthink they have to be heroes.
"Sometimes they think these are trouble kids, kids that somehowhave delinquent behavior or have been in trouble with the law, andthat's not the case at all," Poti said. "We have kids coming infrom all socioeconomic levels and all walks of life."
Poti said research has shown all children can benefit fromhaving a mentor outside their families.
"Just being you is what you can do for the kids and beingsomeone there for their individual attention and support," Potisaid. "That's as simple as it is. You don't have to be a hero."
Volunteers are paired with children based on theirpersonalities, similar interests and what age ranges they areinterested in working with.
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