In My Own Words by Marc Paulo Guzman

Jayson and I first met in 2015, when he was just six years old. I had been living in Charlottesville for a little over two years and was looking for a meaningful way to give back to the community. Big Brothers Big Sisters felt like the right fit, and I appreciated how intentional the matching process was — taking time to understand what I was hoping for in a Little Brother. Still, when the day came to meet Jayson, I was both excited and nervous. I wanted him to like me. I wanted us to connect.

The agency made that first meeting feel natural and comfortable, giving us conversation starters to help break the ice. It didn’t take long to realize we had plenty in common — from our favorite colors to our shared love of Power Rangers and Pokémon. That day set the tone for a relationship built on genuine connection, curiosity, and fun.

Over the years, our bond grew through simple joys and shared traditions: ice cream runs, apple cider donuts from Carter Mountain Orchards, and countless conversations that evolved as we both grew up. Jayson loved video games — something I was never particularly good at — but some of my favorite moments were watching him play, explaining his strategies, and seeing the confidence he had in teaching me something he loved.

I’m a huge UVA fan and over the years we have attended countless basketball, football, and soccer games together. At first, I worried I was dragging him along to events he didn’t fully understand, but soon enough he was singing the “Hey Cheer,” celebrating buzzer beaters, and getting excited about great defensive plays. Watching that enthusiasm grow was incredibly rewarding.

One of the strongest connections we share is through music. Early on, we’d blast Queen and Green Day while driving around town, not realizing just how influential that music would become for him. Years later, when he shared his Spotify playlists, I saw how deeply those sounds had shaped his taste — from 80s and 90s rock to bands I had barely even heard of. Jayson joined the orchestra in middle school, and as a musician myself, I loved showing up to his concerts. What I assumed might be a short-lived interest became a lasting passion; today, he plays violin in high school, is part of the marching band drumline on cymbals, and balances that with mountain biking club and cross country.

Music continues to be a thread that ties us together. Being there for his first major concert — Green Day — felt surreal. That band was such a big part of my own teenage years and now it’s part of his story too.

Being Jayson’s Big has taught me as much as I’ve ever taught him. While we had a lot in common, I sometimes worried that I talked too much or that he wasn’t always as expressive. Over time, he showed me the value of presence — of meaningful conversation over small talk. Jayson is a remarkable listener. He would bring up things weeks later that I didn’t even realize he’d noticed or remembered, and that changed how I show up in my own relationships. He’s always marched to the beat of his own drum, uninterested in fleeting trends and more drawn to what genuinely resonates with him. In many ways, he’s an “old soul” — though I still get reminders that he’s very much a teenager.

One of the greatest gifts of this Match has been the relationship with Jayson’s entire family. Getting to know his siblings, being invited to family gatherings, and learning from them about his passions gave me a sense of home while my own family was far away. Their openness and support made Charlottesville feel like home in a way I never expected.

As I step into a new role as Board Chair for Big Brothers Big Sisters, it feels like a natural extension of everything this experience has given me. While our formal Match will come to an end when Jayson graduates high school — something I don’t like to think about — the impact of this relationship will last far beyond that milestone. Jayson has been a constant presence throughout my adult life, and I am incredibly proud of the thoughtful, passionate young person he has become.

This Match has shown me the power of simply showing up — consistently, authentically, and with care. And I’m excited to continue giving back to an organization that made such a meaningful relationship possible.