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24 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • November 2015 BY SUSAN LARSON A den, a smart, happy and adventurous sixth grader at Edward E. Drew Middle School, loves to challenge his Big Brother in whatever activi- ties they share. "Aden and I always enjoy any time we get to spend together," said Big Brother Jonathan Diaz. When Match Advocate Regina Price first contacted me about Aden as a possible match and described his interests and personality, I immediately thought we'd get along very well. That's exact- ly what happened." Diaz is an electrical engineer for the Department of the Navy at Dahlgren. He and Aden share common interests in sports, mathematics and science. "During our first meeting, we played video games at Aden's house, and it was really fun," Diaz said. Their next few meetings included trips to the Massad Family YMCA in Fredericksburg, where they had a great time playing racquet- ball, basketball and table ten- nis. "We also had some friend- ly chess matches," Diaz said. "The key to creating effective mentoring relationships lies in the development of trust between two individuals," Diaz said. "I believe our good communication from the beginning was key to quickly developing a positive relationship." Participating in events organized by Big Brother Big Sisters is a favorite for Aden and Diaz. "These activities serve as great opportuni- ties to meet other Bigs and Littles, and share our experiences," Diaz said. Recently they participated in an event at Hope Springs Marina where they spent time with other matches while fishing, boating, paddle boarding and swimming. "By becoming a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters, I knew that I was going to have the opportunity to positively impact a child's future through mentorship," Diaz said. He highly recommends volunteering with the group. "I definitely recommend anyone become a volunteer with RBBBS. Volunteering just a few hours a week can be the key for some- thing amazing in a child's life. You would be amazed to see that your role as a mentor merges the characteristics of a friend, motivator, companion and role model." "The benefits of BBBS are infinite," Diaz said. "I have lived one of life's most rewarding and fulfilling experiences since I became a mentor." Susan Larson is the publisher of Fredericksburg.Today online news, a contributing writer for Fredericksburg Parent and Family magazine and a freelance writer and social media consultant. The BENEFITS are Infinite Big Brother Jonathan and Little Brother Aden Aden and Jonathan BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS To learn more about volunteering, visit the Rappahannock Big Brothers Big Sisters website at www.rbbbs.org or call 540-371-7444. Aden and Jonathan "I have lived one of life's most rewarding and fulfilling experiences since I became a mentor."