How has best buddies changed your perspective on the world/ society?

Best Buddies has really opened my eyes and shown me how much hurt is in the world. I’ve been in this club since 6th grade and as the years go on I am gaining more and more faith in generations to come because the organization is growing more and more every year. This club offers so many incredible opportunities including one to one friendships, jobs, inclusive living and so much more. To get involved here at the high school all you need to do is come to the events that we host and just be a good friend to all. This club has had such an amazing impact on my life specifically through the one to one friendships. I’ve been friends with my buddy since 6th grade and seeing the joy on his face when we see each other has just brought me so much joy. 

What do you believe that best buddies are trying to accomplish and why?

Best Buddies was founded to help stop the social isolation that many people face every single day. Best Buddies is trying to accomplish a world full of inclusion. The main goal of Best Buddies is to end the club of Best Buddies because everyone is inclusive and accepts people for who they are. Best Buddies was founded in 1989 due to the unfair circumstances that many people with disabilities were facing. The main mission of this global organization is to help create friendships that will last a lifetime.

How are you encouraging kindness? 

The biggest thing I like to tell people when they encounter students with special abilities is that in a way we all have special abilities. Because of the club of Best Buddies we have grown as a school and community to help end isolation to student with IDDs. The biggest thing that makes me the most happy is that because of Best Buddies so many students with special abilities are given the opportunity to work full time jobs and even live with other people to give them the live experiences that they deserve. 

What do you do as your role in best buddies, both at the high school and outside of the high school? 

I am the chapter president here at the high school as well as the co-chair for Best Buddies Indiana Student Advisory Board. With both of these positions I look over all of our matches as well as planning events to help grow our club and connect us to the community. I love being in these positions because it allows me to do something I’m very passionate and enjoy while spreading the word of inclusion throughout our community.

What does best buddies mean to you?

Best Buddies just means community to me. It means to connect with others and accept others who may have different abilities than me. The biggest thing to me is making the community a more inclusive place and also creating more friendship for students who have special abilities.