The BIG Picture
By Jeanette Ramnarine
It was 18 years ago. I had just turned 19 and was searching for something to give meaning to my life. I was well on my way to
starting a career in teaching music with plans to open my own music studio, but I wanted to do more….I wanted to make a
difference and help others. I happened to be looking through the newspaper, when I saw an ad looking for “Big Sisters”. I was
immediately drawn to the advertisement and called to inquire about the mentoring program and during that phone conversation
agreed upon a date to be interviewed.
Shortly thereafter I was matched with a 9 year old girl named Monica. At the time, I would never have imagined that this young girl
would become one of the most important people in my life.
I loved Monica unconditionally from the moment I met her. I remember her adorable brown eyes, long brown hair and sun kissed
skin. She was absolutely beautiful in every sense of the word and I felt an instant connection to her. Knowing a little about the
challenges she faced early on in her life, I decided that in my role as her Big Sister, I would try to slowly gain her trust through our
friendship. I remember bringing her to my home for pizza and movie nights, making crafts together, playing board games, attending
her school play and baton practices, hanging out together in my music studio and creating a scrapbook for Big Sisters that would win
us first prize and a trip together to Canada’s Wonderland. It was easy to fall in love with this energetic, funny and intelligent young
girl.
As the years went by, Monica would come to know Richards who would become my husband. On our wedding day I was honored to
have Monica stand by to support us as one of my bridesmaids. I was beginning an exciting chapter of my life with a new husband,
and a new home. Monica was a teenager now with her own set of challenges. Her two older brothers started having children at a
very young age and Monica shared much of the responsibility in helping to raise and take care of her young nieces and nephews.
Knowing Monica’s potential and her dreams, Richards and I felt that Monica needed more structure and support in order for her to
reach her goals and realize her dream of going to University. We opened up our home to her, and she moved in with us a month
after our first child was born.
Monica lived with us for just under two years. We would experience the challenges of raising an infant and a teenager juggling nap
times, diaper changes and infant play dates with driving lessons, after school jobs and high school homework. Monica helped in any
way she could and having experience in caring for her infant nieces and nephews became a blessing and help in the care of our son
Caleb and later our newborn daughter, Maya.
Richards and I were proud to stand by Monica on her high school graduation day and were excited when Monica received letters of
acceptance to all three universities to which she applied. We would spend much of the following summer helping her prepare for
her next big move to begin University. The day we packed up her things, drove her to University and helped her settle into
residence was filled with so many emotions. Three years later we would be in attendance to watch her graduate from the nursing
program with honours.
Since then, we have seen Monica grow into a responsible adult with an impressive career in nursing and teaching. She is a beacon of
hope and support to her nieces and nephews as they grow and face their own life challenges. We are so proud of the young woman
that she is today. To our children, she will always be their “Aunt Monica” and to me, she will always be my “Little Sister”.
As Big Sister’s celebrates their 100th year, I thank them for the opportunity to reflect upon the 18 years I’ve shared with Monica. I
never would have imagined that at a time when I was looking to make a difference in a young girl’s life, that it would have such a
profound impact and bring me so much love in return.