Gurreri became involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters more than two years ago when she was matched with Cheyenne Carroll, now a freshman in high school.
Gurreri said Carroll always kids that she should be the Big because she is taller.
“I was like, ‘Isn’t she supposed to be my Big?’” ?Carroll said.
Program Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana Mark Voland said Gurreri was awarded the IU Big of the Year because of her commitment to her Little Sister, Carroll.
Voland said 58 percent of their Bigs are IU students, but Gurreri stood out.
Although she has been involved with IU Dance Marathon, Dietetics Club and is a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority, she said she makes Big Brothers Big ?Sisters a priority.
“Her Little, Cheyenne, has had some challenges,” he said. “And Alyssa has stayed with it. She’s made Cheyenne a priority in her life.”
She does not try to fix her Little, Voland said, but instead is always there for her.
“She’s willing to listen to Cheyenne and give advice where it’s needed,” he said. “Just being there when she says she’s going to be there.”
Gurreri said she was humbled and honored to receive the award, and that it made her understand her true impact on her Little ?Sister.
“It was exciting for me to be able to see that, how much I mean to Cheyenne.”
Carroll said her relationship with her Big Sister is centered in their trust.
“I talk more with her,” Carroll said.
When they first met, Carroll would exaggerate the stories she told, Gurreri said.
“When she used to tell me all sorts of stories, we kind of got to a point where we would talk about, ‘You know, Cheyenne, even if that’s not true, that’s OK,’” she said. “‘I like you for who you are, and I don’t care if you didn’t run your mile in four minutes in the snow and mud,’ or whatever the story of the day is.”
She said she wants to encourage Carroll and give her self-confidence.
“She is a great kid, and confirming that what she’s doing, she’s doing a good job of it.”
Now that Carroll is older, Gurreri said, their communication has changed. She said they see each other about every other week, but often text to stay in touch between the times they are able to be together.
“Even if we aren’t hanging out as much, I would just say that our communication is a lot more ?meaningful now.”
Carroll described Gurreri as a real big sister in her life.
“We kind of act like it’s not by a club or anything,” she said. “We kind of just act like we did this on our own.”
The pair said they usually spend time at Rachael’s Café, where they drink hot chocolate and talk or play games.
“I’ll occasionally beat her,” Gurreri said.
Gurreri hopes Carroll’s growing comfort with her allows for security in her ever-changing world.
“I think that, for her, something that it seems like has been most important for her is just having someone that she knows she can count on,” she said. “She’s changed homes a lot, changed families a lot, and just having someone that’s constant ... I think that’s good.”
Although her role is to be the Big Sister, Gurreri said she learned a lot about understanding and compassion from her relationship with Carroll.
Their relationship has influenced her future as well, she said. She is majoring in dietetics, and said she wants to work in a children’s ?hospital.
She said her Big Brothers Big Sisters experience has sealed her plans.
“It’s getting the exposure to kids that are going through a lot,” she said. “It’s different than it would be at a hospital setting, but it still has been something that’s helped me decide what I want to do in regards to a career.”
Gurreri has applied for dietetic internships in Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Georgia. She said the internship is her next step toward her career.
Although these locations are miles away from Carroll, Gurreri said they plan to keep up their ?relationship.
