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.