When you find something good in life, you hold on it to. That's how Javon feels about his big brother.
"So we ended up finding Mark. [He's] A-Okay. He's perfect," Javon says.
This perfect match has been together since the fall of 2017. Fox 4 Morning News caught up with Javon and his big brother, Mark Nichols, at a Minnesota Twins spring training game, and featured them on Mentorship Monday. It was Javon's first baseball game.
"It seems like whatever we do is a first for Javon," Nichols says.
Like a lot of bigs and littles in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, their relationship started with Mark introducing Javon to things he's never done before. They have connected over sports.
"Surprisingly my mom allowed me to go shooting with him," Javon says. "And we started off at a gun range with a pistol and that kind of went well, I kept the paper. And then after that we started going skeet shooting. We did that for like 3, 4 weeks straight."
"Since I'm sharing so many things with him that are his first experience, it's just kind of a pleasure to see that enthusiasm," Nichols says, "and the interest he has in learning new things."
And that enthusiasm is leading to something deeper. A relationship that's more significant than the memory of a first baseball game.
"He gives me advice when I ask him, he tries to keep me stay focused in school and not get distracted by anything," Javon says. "He's really helpful."
"It's a feel good thing," Nichols says. "I'm getting as much out of this, or more, than Javon."
Mondays on Fox 4 Morning News, we share stories about mentors making a difference in our community. For more information, visit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast.
