From Little to National Leader: Abbie Aragon Farra Selected for BBBSA National Youth Council
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire is proud to celebrate an extraordinary milestone for one of our own.
Abbigail “Abbie” Aragon Farra, longtime Little Sister, mentor, alumni leader, and changemaker, has been selected to serve on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America National Youth Council. Abbie is one of a small group of young leaders from across the country chosen to help advise, inspire, and shape the future of the Big Brothers Big Sisters movement nationwide.
For Abbie, this honor is not just a recognition of where she is today. It reflects how far she has come.
A JOURNEY SHAPED BY RESILIENCE AND MENTORSHIP
Abbie’s story began in a single-parent household that required maturity beyond her years. She learned early the importance of responsibility, adaptability, and grit. Growing up in a Latino family with limited resources, she lost her father at a young age, navigated bullying at school, and helped support her family while her mother served on active military duty.
When Abbie was matched with her Big Sister, Jen, through Big Brothers Big Sisters, everything did not suddenly become easy. What changed was that she no longer had to face it alone.
Over time, that match grew into a Big Couple relationship with Jen and Matt, who have now been by Abbie’s side for more than 14 years. Through middle school, high school, college, and early adulthood, her Bigs provided consistent encouragement, belief, and guidance, showing up for milestones, setbacks, and everything in between.
That steady support helped Abbie build confidence, discover her voice, and imagine a future she had not always been sure was possible.
PAYING IT FORWARD: FROM LITTLE TO LEADER
Abbie did not just thrive in the program. She gave back.
She became a High School Big, stepping into a mentoring role entirely on her own initiative. She later served as a speaker, youth representative, and ambassador for BBBS OC/IE, sharing her story to inspire donors, volunteers, and Littles alike.
In 2014, Abbie and her Bigs were honored as Big & Little of the Year, representing our agency on a national stage. Since then, her involvement has only deepened.
Today, Abbie is a first-generation college graduate, having earned her degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. She continues to give back as an alumni leader, co-leading financial literacy workshops, speaking at our Mental Health Summit and Bright Futures Celebration, and helping create spaces where young people and families can build practical skills and confidence for the future.
Her lived experience as a Little, a Big, and an alumni leader gives her a rare, full-circle perspective on the power of mentorship.
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL?
The Big Brothers Big Sisters of America National Youth Council brings together young leaders ages 18 to 25 from across the country who have experienced BBBS firsthand as Littles, Bigs, or alumni.
Council members serve a one-year term, during which they:
- Advise BBBSA leadership by sharing lived experience
- Amplify youth voices at the national level
- Advocate for youth-driven solutions and priorities
- Act as ambassadors for the BBBS mission
The goal is simple and powerful: to ensure that young people are not just served by BBBS, but help shape its future.
WHAT ABBIE HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH
As a National Youth Council member, Abbie hopes to focus on the issues she knows firsthand.
She is passionate about expanding access to financial literacy, normalizing conversations around mental health, ensuring youth from underserved communities feel seen, represented, and heard, and helping BBBS continue to evolve in ways that meet young people where they are.
Abbie believes that mentorship does not just change individual lives. It can change family legacies. She is living proof.
Abbie’s selection to the National Youth Council and her journey reflects what we know to be true: when young people are supported, believed in, and empowered, they do not just succeed. They lead.
Congratulations, Abbie. We cannot wait to see the impact you will make next.
