Match: Little Sister Blessing and Big Sister Tina Koenen 

Match Date: October 18, 2017

High School: Avon High School

Little Sister Blessing and Big Sister Tina Koenen have been matched for 4 years. Blessing will be graduating from Avon High School in the Spring. Come the Fall, Blessing is planning to attend Indiana University for Nursing with the future of becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Blessing is also the scholarship recipient of the Endress + Hauser scholarship. 

When reflecting on their time in the program and how Little Sister Blessing has grown over the past 4 years Tina shared, “Blessing was 14 when we met, very quiet and reserved as well as smart. Since then, she has gained confidence in herself, and while she is still quiet, she has found her voice and speaks up. She is the woman of the future. I cannot wait to see where life will take her. She has an inner strength that I do not think she is completely aware of. I admire my little sister and her family a great deal.”

Blessing and Tina have a lot of memories over the past 4 years they have enjoyed hiking which included them getting ‘misplaced’ because they were so caught up in their conversation about hair styles that they missed a turn or two. They spent the entire day with each other at Holiday World having a fun experience. They also had a wonderful time at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum they did not want to leave!

Tina has one message that she would like to leave for Blessing, “Stay open to all the opportunities and challenges that will come your way. Do not be afraid to fail – failure is often the steppingstone to success. No matter what I will be cheering you on. I am always available to with a listening ear and froyo.” The BBBSCI family and Tina will be rooting for Blessing as she heads into this next chapter of her life at Indiana University.

Good luck, Blessing!