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Issue 8, November 2008 |
What’s New at Life ChangingSISTER2sister NewsMeet Our SistersSASSI NewsDiary NotesSponsor SpotlightMedia Buzz |
“Change your thoughts
and you change your world” -
Norman Vincent Peale
Can you help? Life Changing Experiences Foundation is urgently seeking:- • A multifunction device • An experienced psychologist |
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We thank our 2008 SISTER2sister Butterfly Sponsors
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Our purpose:
To empower vulnerable teenage girls to make positive life choices for a better future
Meet our Sisters
In this issue, Big Sister, Liz tells us why she was drawn to the Foundation and what her Big Sister journey has entailed.
I have had a great life (so far) with a loving family and friends. I realised that not everyone however has had my luck and my advantages. Some people, through no fault of their own or through an accident of birth have not had my chances in life. So I felt that I really owed something back to the community. When I heard of Life Changing Experiences Foundation, I realised that this foundation would allow me to offer something back.
Well that was the reasoning, but I was very apprehensive when it came to actually meeting my Little Sister and going to Bootcamp – my first for a few decades! My gorgeous Little Sister told me later (as did many other Big and Little Sisters) that she felt exactly the same. What was in store for us? I was so terrified that I might not get on with my Little Sister and that she might not like me or think that I was too old. Surprisingly, she worked out who I was very quickly guided only by a photo of me at the age of 16. (How scary that I might still look vaguely as I did at 16!) Anyway, she found me very soon and after a little initial shyness, we got on surprisingly well. We found that we had quite a lot in common (I was also a naughty schoolgirl) and I thought we had been matched very well. We even share the same star sign!
Sara excelled at the team building games we were involved with soon after our introductions, and I realised what a great brain she had – even if it had been under-utilised to date! She was so clever at logic and maths, and therefore, in working out how to get out of those tricky games situations.
When Sara and I first met, she was only 13 and had few, if any, goals for her life ahead. She had rarely been asked what she wanted to do when she grew up so we had a bit of a hard time setting goals for her. When I asked Sara where she saw herself in ten years time, she thought carefully for a few minutes and then said, "ten years older". So true! Despite her then lack of interest, she has now been able to visualise and aim for a more productive future.
She has now changed schools and seems much happier in her new school. Sara has decided to continue to finish the School Certificate and has been accelerated into Year 10 at the age of only fourteen. I think that she is now seriously considering continuing on to complete her HSC and perhaps, to go on to tertiary studies.
We have had a few hurdles, especially when Sara had to get up early to travel long distances to our outings. Once or twice she has missed an outing but we have made up for it by going on a few extra-curricular outings by ourselves.
One Saturday we went with another Big and Little Sister pair to the Open Day at UTS where Sara saw students involved with forensic science and many other tertiary studies. She was most impressed with the students doing Chinese Massage and at this stage thinks that she would like to study this field or child care at university after completing her HSC.
We have had some interesting and fun times with the other "sisters". We both loved learning how to chop wood with our bare hands and despite Sara’s initial reluctance, we both also loved canoeing. I also found out what a great dancer she is too.
Since Boot Camp, I can see Sara’s confidence increasing. She used to be more bravado but is now becoming more confident – in a slightly quieter way! She has visited other Little Sisters these holidays and we have both made friends with other Little and Big Sisters.
I am pretty sure that I will remain friends with Sara for many years. I have gained so much from the Life Changing Experiences program and I know Sara has too. I think we have both grown this year.
