The Journal

Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: LifeStyle

Media Credit: Brent Holzapfel Sophomore Matt Grant helps younger brother Alex Hoff construct a Lego spaceship.

Building a spaceship can be a tedious task. Sophomore Matt Grant, a film studies major, said one of the most important things is making sure the ship is aerodynamic so the wind won't be in control. Aerodynamics also ensures good fuel efficiency.

Grant's "little brother" Alex Hoff, an eighth grader at Hixson Middle School, believes the most important detail in creating a spaceship is making sure none of the astronauts fall out and that all of the pieces are used.

"It doesn't have to be aerodynamic, it's fine," Hoff said to Grant while snapping together several Legos to create a long antenna-like shape. "We need a roof so our people won't fly out."

Now in their second year as a pair, the two spend one hour together a week in the Big Brother Big Sister program. This mentoring program is designed to unite a youth, referred to as a little, with an adult, who is called a big, to create a lasting friendship.

One of Hoff's favorite things to do is play with Legos.

"It's a good thing you're never going to become an astronaut," Grant said. "Look what you did. You broke it even more."

The ship was in its second week of construction and starting to fall apart.

"It was partially my fault, but mostly yours," Hoff said.

Grant looked at the spaceship and laughed at the Christmas antenna-like structure on the top of it.

"This is a really ugly spaceship," Grant said.

The two act like brothers, often making sarcastic remarks and calling each other names.

"Matt's just fun and weird," Hoff said. "He might be a little cuckoo."

The Webster program is conducted with Hixson Middle School. It has changed its format this year from a large, after-school, group setting, to a one-on-one meeting for each big brother or sister and little brother or sister.

Webster students meet with their little brother or sister once a week. During the meetings, the middle-schoolers are taken out of an elective class and sent to the library or outside to spend time with their positive adult figure. Meeting times are worked around the adult's personal schedule, allowing any student to participate without having to change his or her schedule to meet a specific meeting time.

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