When Tina DiMonte first became a mentor to LaShaun Brown in 1986, she had no idea the strength and longevity their relationship would have. Through all these years and trials, Tina has been an outstanding example for LaShaun, and now the two share a mutual adult friendship. They are thrilled to be celebrating 25 years as a Big and a Little, as well as LaShaun’s recent graduation from Samford University.
LaShaun was in second grade when she met Tina. They enjoyed skating, bowling, and going to the movies. “I wasn’t use to going to different places,” LaShaun says. “She took me on trips.”
Tina offered LaShaun the confidence that she could become anything she wanted to in life if she studied and stayed in school. “I stressed education, education, education,” Tina says. “I guess what I preached sunk in.”
LaShaun received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Samford University in May after much diligence and hard work. “Tina was the main reason I went back to college.” She plans to get her Master’s Degree in counseling from UAB so she can fulfill her dream of helping young women.
“That woman has pulled herself up to become a strong, independent, and good woman.” Tina beams. “I am humbled by the way she took on and beat the odds against her. I am humbled by her success in life by making something of herself, and I feel so privileged to have been a part of this young woman’s life. I’m so proud of her!”
Tina and LaShaun’s friendship shows no signs of stopping. They email every day, and Tina is godmother to LaShaun’s oldest son, Joseph. They are ideal models of what mentoring can accomplish and proof that the mentoring relationship fostered in Big Brothers Big Sisters can extend far beyond the program’s age limits.
“Everyone should step up and help someone in some type of way,” LaShaun says. “Youth today need guidance, and they need to see there is always a way out. Big Brothers Big Sisters really helped me.”
