ESSOnian of the Month: Bianca Beck
“She really does care a lot about making sure that BSLS is the best it can be,” Ahmed said.
Senior Bianca Beck greets her elementary school students from ESSO Big Sib Little Sib each month with a wide smile and a welcoming hug. After their short reunion, Beck and her Little Sib go out for an afternoon of ice skating. Although Beck and her Little Sib part after a few hours, her optimism and kindness will remain with them until their next meeting.
Beck’s innate leadership and natural affinity for service led her to join ESSO during the fall of her prep year. She joined her first ESSO club after the encouragement of two upperclassmen in her dorm, Langdell Hall. The passionate club members and welcoming atmosphere made her want to return the following week, and she gradually became an integral member of multiple ESSO clubs.
Beck now serves as a co-head of Big Sib Little Sib (BSLS). In the club, students are paired with adopted or culturally underrepresented children to help them feel more at ease in Exeter’s demographic. Senior Gabby Brown, one of the Children’s Coordinators on the ESSO Board, commended Beck’s ability to empathize with her Little Sib. “Bianca is very supportive, and she’s a great listener,” Brown said.
Senior Yaseen Ahmed holds a similar opinion of Beck. “She really does care a lot about making sure that BSLS is the best it can be,” Ahmed said.
Elizabeth Reyes, a faculty advisor of ESSO, elaborated on the qualities that make Beck an exemplary co-head. “[Beck] embodies goodness and dedicates her time to helping others around her do better,” Reyes said. “She has helped the Big Sibs understand the importance of accountability—not just how to show up but also how to be present.”
Beck also recognizes the importance of leading the Little Sibs by example, especially as a minority. Growing up in Tokyo, she found it hard to find someone who looked like her to look up to. “I really understand the value of having representation and being able to look up to someone who looks like you, and that’s what BSLS gives to children in the community,” she said.
She finds joy in the impact BSLS has on young children, commenting that her favorite moments within the club are when the Big Sibs and the Little Sibs, with whom the Exonians are paired with, get to reunite at the beginning of each meeting.
As a leader of the club, Beck orchestrates all of these reunions and ensures that the Big Sibs have fun activities planned for their students. Her fellow BSLS co-heads appreciate Beck’s dedication to the club. “[Beck] is positive and efficient in all she does, and has a special skill in making people want to work. She cares a lot about the kids in her club, making sure that everything is running smoothly all the time...she’s very dedicated to planning every event.” Alexia Netcu, another co-head, said. “She is always the one who motivates us to get everything done with her passion for the kids.”
Netcu recalled how she and Beck bonded last fall while washing pumpkins outside for BSLS on a rainy Saturday. “I remember how much we cursed the freezing rain but also how much we laughed,” she said. “I can’t think of many people who would have joined me outside that day [other than Bianca]. It was just another example of Bianca being her amazing and special self.”
Beck credits ESSO with helping her develop her community awareness and encourages younger Exonians to join one of ESSO’s clubs. “I think there’s so many ESSO clubs that anyone can find at least one that you can really identify with and put a lot of energy into,” said Beck. “If anyone wants to help better their community in any way, community service is definitely the way to do that.”
As Beck graduates from the Exeter community, Reyes reflects on her impact and the legacy she will leave behind. “The Big Sib Little Sib program is more organized because of the systems Bianca has helped to implement...she is certainly leaving the program stronger than she found it.”