WORCESTER, Mass. — Nine years ago, when Carter Roseler was 7 years old and in the care of his grandmother, he applied for a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization in Central Mass.

“I was just looking for anything,” Roseler said. “I wanted a male figure in my life… I knew it was very important.”

And that’s where Jon Ryan came in. During their first meeting, Ryan and Roseler played wiffle ball and got to know each other.

“We became a match,” Roseler said.

The organization’s Central Massachusetts chapter was founded in 1963, supporting individualized programs for more than 50 years. Many volunteers come from local colleges and corporations, and the participants meet weekly for activities encompassing everything from sporting events to homework help. The “Bigs” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program serve as a consistent adult presence in the lives of their mentees, as they work through challenges and celebrate successes together.

For more than a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated with the mission of helping every child recognize their potential and build their own future. The organization is the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, creating meaningful connections between adult volunteers, who are called “Bigs,” and kids, who are called “Littles.”

“He’s an amazing kid,” Ryan said. “It’s been amazing watching him doing a lot of firsts. Thanks to [the photo memory phone app] Timehop and the other apps, the [memories] come up a lot of the time.”

Photo courtesy of Jon Ryan.

Roseler and Ryan have done many activities together over the past nine years. In his office, he has a rock with the date of July 16, 2017, commemorating the day of Roseler’s first snorkel. There have been many “firsts” for Roseler too, like his first time touring Boston, his first bowl of proper Raman, and his first time fishing — which didn’t go exactly as planned.

“Funny story,” Roseler said. “I caught his arm [with the hook], so we had to go get the doctor to get that out. That will always stick with me.”

But Ryan said Roseler did, indeed, catch his first fish.

The two have memories of missing trains home but finding a way to still make it; going on hikes; days at the beach; and exciting sports games. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides their mentors and mentees with the resources needed for these special moments.

Ryan wanted to join the program because he wanted to give back to the community and had become an empty nester. His three children played sports, which he said took up a lot of his time, but when they went off to college, he was left with a more open schedule.

“I was like, ‘I have all this experience, and I want to give back,’” Ryan said. “I had eight brothers and sisters growing up, and I couldn’t imagine not having a brother or another male figure for guidance.”

The pair even won the Dr. H. Martin Deranian Fellowship Award, which is given to a “Big” that goes beyond the expectations in their contributions to their “Little” and the agency.

Photo courtesy of Jon Ryan.

Ryan and Roseler text each other all the time and try to get together at least once a week. They talk about what’s happening in the day, and Ryan even sometimes helps Roseler with homework problems. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the two did virtual activities together.

“It’s not about the amount of time you spend together,” Ryan said. “It’s actually the quality of time… The huge difference is interacting and listening and being attentive.”

Now, Ryan said that Roseler is part of the family.

“My kids, my brother-in-law, my family, they all know him,” Ryan said. “People at work know him and know everything about him because I talk about him.”

Roseler said that aspect of the relationship is one of his favorites. He even has attended Ryan family BBQs.

“There are no words to describe that,” Roseler said. “Coming from someone who really had no family besides my grandmother and a few aunts, to have him — to feel that sense of having a family and people to go to if I ever need something — it’s unbelievable.”

Matches in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program are made each day, and the bonds that are formed often last a lifetime — even though the program technically ends when the “Littles” turn 18 years old. 

Ryan says he wants to “beat” the record for longest connection, too.

“I look forward to long beyond the 18,” Ryan said. “We gotta break the match record.”