NEISD police officers mentor students through 'Bigs in Blue' program

“Spectacular, beautiful and helpful.”

Those are the words that eleven-year-old Vanessa Vega said describes North East ISD Police Officer Marisol Garza.

“We actually talk about what goes on in life, like problems and stuff. I talk a lot,” the sixth-grader said.

The Nimitz Middle School student is part of the ‘Bigs in Blue’ program.

She was paired with Officer Garza through Big Brothers and Big Sisters of South Texas.

Christina Martinez is the Vice President of External Relations for the organization.

“The purpose of Bigs in Blue is to be intentional about finding mentors who are law enforcement officers in the immediate community and to pair them with young people, so that young people can start to understand that the law enforcement is here to support us and protect us and keep us safe,” Martinez said.

The ‘bigs’ provide their ‘littles’ with one-on-one learning opportunities.

They do group activities, talk role models, and just catch up over a slice of pizza.

Marisol Garza has been with the NEISD Police Department for six years.

“I think she is teaching me how to be outgoing and spontaneous, which is a good thing,” Garza said.

Vanessa said she enjoys having a ‘Big Sister’ like Officer Garza.

“I had a mentor in elementary and I honestly feel like I never thought I was going to have another one, but I feel comfortable having a mentor or big sister because I get to express all my feelings and actually talk to someone cool and have fun,” she said.

The program aims to follow students all the way through high school graduation.

“What we are helping young people understand is that the goal for us is that young people graduate high school with a plan; either to enroll in college, enlist in the military or go into a living-wage job. A lot of what we are doing in sixth grade is building that relationship so that way that relationship is there when we do want to push on them to start making decisions about their future,” Martinez said.

Officer Garza said she hopes the kids will know they the students can always rely on them.

“I think it’s important for them to know that regardless of where they go, they can always reach out to one of us and ask the questions that they may need to.”

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