How Mentorship Shapes Youth at Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities: Jacie Scott’s Big Night Speech
April 27, 2026
Good evening, everyone! It is such a pleasure to be a part of the magic that is Big Night.
Fun Fact: My first Big Night was last year. My Little, Naomi, and I were invited to attend as a guest of Christine Meyer, founder of She Climbs Mountains and Girls Rise Up, who is a really meaningful part of our story.
At that point, we were coming up on our one-year match anniversary. During one of the speeches, a Big was sharing how long she’d been with her Little and all the different phases of life they had experienced together.
Naomi leaned over in her chair and whispered, “That’s going to be us one day.”
So when I got the text asking if I’d be interested in returning to speak at this year’s Big Night… I bet you can guess my first thought.
Yeah.
Nope.
Mhm. I don’t know about that.
And that reaction made me laugh a little bit.
Like…girl. You have danced on some of the most iconic stages in your career. You’ve performed at Radio City Music Hall. And you hesitate to stand on this stage and talk about something that means so much to you? What’s that about?
Fear.
Fear of not saying it right. Of not finding the perfect combination of words. Of missing the mark. Of not showing up in the way this moment deserves.
On the other side of that knee-jerk no was the reality that I wasn’t actually afraid. It was that I actually cared. So much. And that made the answer clear.
Mentorship has taught me that saying yes isn’t a declaration of perfection. I don’t even think it’s a statement of readiness. I’d say it means you care enough to show up. And thanks to life, there’s no real blueprint to what “showing up” looks like.
Naomi and I share a mutual loss – losing our mothers at a young age. Her loss happened much earlier in her life than mine. In the beginning, I thought that our shared loss would be the biggest theme of our connection. I had the opportunity to be a woman in her life who understands the emotions, the questions, and the in-between moments that come with a loss of that magnitude.
Then, during one of our first match hangouts, she asked me to play ping pong with her. I immediately said no. I’d never ping ponged before. What if I looked dumb? Running around the BBBS office after that little ball. I can’t look dumb in front of her. I’m her mentor. And so on.
Then, she said, “Well, I haven’t either. But I’d do it with you.”
That moment showed me what saying yes to Naomi would mean. It’s playing laser tag for the first time in my life and having her show me how it’s done. Or a sweet treat and yap session about our next braided hairstyle and what’s happening at school. It’s listening to music and finding small ways to honor our moms. It’s facing fears – even the ones my inner child still holds onto – because my desire to make her feel seen is stronger than any fear.
Naomi has never asked me to be perfect. She’s only asked me to show up. And every single yes I’ve given has not only nurtured a special connection between us, but it’s also made me more present. More willing to try, even if I might get it wrong and end up laughing at myself. It became less about what I had to offer, and all about just showing up. Consistently. Intentionally. And with love.
My yes has helped not just Naomi, but other Littles and Bigs feel seen, heard, and valued.
Imagine if we all chose to say yes in a way that would shock our younger selves? A little messy. Probably with a little fear. But with a purpose that outweighs both. That’s how you create impact that transcends generations.
And that’s exactly the kind of future I want. For Naomi, and for every young person we have the chance to mentor.
So tonight, as we celebrate the lasting impact we can create when we show up for our young people, I want to say to all of you – slightly louder than a whisper:
That’s going to be us one day.
Watch Jacie Scott’s speech from the 2026 Big Night Gala, our annual fundraiser and celebration of the power of mentorship.
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