Be the Change!

Abby Love and Sheila Schuh are both student leaders Carmel HS chapter, attended the Best Buddies International Leadership Conference this past summer and are fast friends. Sheila shares an incredible story about her best friend!

An amazing man once said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." 

One of my best friends has given that quote a run for its money. Many would look at Abby Love and label her as what is first seen. She has special needs. I could go on and list her disabilities. But Abby has lived such an inspiring 20 years of life, she has shown me it is so much easier to list her ABILITIES. My freshman year, my first friend at Carmel High School was miss Abby Love. We went from being Rapunzel and a Dalmation at a Best Buddies halloween dance to President and Buddy Director of our Best Buddies chapter. Abby has made an excellent addition to our team. She comes to each officer meeting with her notebook and pen to take notes, attended the Best Buddies Leadership Conference, interviewed all incoming buddies this year and has been a stellar example of what it means to be a friend. 

A friend is one who is there in all times with bunches of love and laughter. Abby Love does just that. This is not only in Best Buddies. Abby has spoken at several Dance Marathons about her experience as a Riley Kid. She is part of our gigantic choir at Carmel where she performs in all concerts. She has acquired several jobs. Among all of these activities, she has spread her friendship along the way. Each weekend, Abby is going out with friends to Noodles & Co. and Orange Leaf. Her joy is contagious. People cannot get enough of her. 

My friend has shown that struggles and hardships mean nothing when you have a lot of love to spread around!

Compassion and Music - The Ticket to Friendship

Darby and Marina from the Hamilton Southeastern HS Best Buddies chapter have been matched for the past two years and have developed a really awesome friendship! Their friendship is built on compassion, and listening to music. Read about their story:

Darby shared the following about her friendship with Marina, 

"My favorite thing about having Marina as a Buddy is that I really like her.  My favorite thing to do with Marina is ride in her car and listen to music.  She drives me home from school a few times a week.  I also like to going to the pet store with her and petting the kittens.  I've met some pretty nice friends through Best Buddies and this is my 5th year!  Some of my friends from Best Buddies have gone to college, but still stay in touch and come visit me when they are home.

I never really had friends before I joined Best Buddies and went to high school.  I've done a lot of fun things like go to prom, go out to eat, bowl, have movie nights, and go swimming with my Buddies.  Everyone should have a Best Buddy to hang out with.  They are nice and I like all my friends from Best Buddies!"

Marina discusses the impact of Best Buddies and the incredible friendship she has with Darby,

"Best Buddies has really changed my life in so many ways. I've always been non-judgmental and inclusive, but I never realized how people with IDD have to deal with not being included. I love being involved and getting to speak to people about how people with disabilities shouldn't be judged because they perfect.  

My favorite thing about Darby is that she is so caring. She can tell when I have a headache and she'll ask if I'm okay. Whenever she sees an ambulance she says, "oh no! Someone got hurt!" I love that her mind is always thinking of others before herself. Darby and I love listening to music and doing puzzles. We also like to go out to eat and watch The Big Bang Theory! We like a lot of the same things; she's a teen and so am I!  

Best Buddies affects my life in a big way. Before this program I didn't know what I wanted to do when I was older or who my true friends were. I now know what career choice is right for me and if my friends can't accept people with IDD then maybe they can't accept me. Best Buddies is an amazing way to get involved in your school or community. Everyone needs a bit of inclusion and love in their lives. Best Buddies is that spot of sunshine in this scary world. You never know, this could be your calling and you wouldn't know it unless you joined!"

The Opportunity of Friendship

Kayla and Alli are an outstanding buddy pair at Mooresville High School. Don’t believe me? Check out either girl's Facebook page or Instagram and see all of the posts they have together. These two are an inseparable pair both inside and outside of school. They are an incredible model of true friendship.

What does Best Buddies mean to you?

To Alli, being paired with Kayla has been “the greatest opportunity of her life”. Many people see what Alli has taught Kayla about the “real world” but at the end of the day, Alli feels like she has grown the most from their friendship.

                                                                       

What's your favorite thing about your buddy?

Alli has a lot of favorite things about Kayla but she will always point out Kayla’s obsession with taking and posting selfies. Kayla “loves their friendship just because that is how it feels.”

 

What do you and your buddy like to do together?

Kayla and Alli like to do a lot of different things together in and outside of Best Buddies. Most recently, they were honored as an “outstanding buddy pair” and attended and Indianapolis Colts game together.

Alli wants people to know that their friendship is one of a kind. Kayla never fails to put a smile on her face.

Champions of Friendship: Laura and Kacy

As many of you know, last March we kicked off our Best Buddies Indiana Citizens program. The Citizens program provides an opportunity for adults in community to form a friendship with another adult in the community with an intellectual or developmental disability. The Citizens program is now in full swing with eight Citizen pairs already. 

Laura Krummen and Kacy Wendling make up one of these friendships.

Laura started her Best Buddies journey at Zionsville High School where she was deeply involved during her time there. Laura is also a Best Buddies Ambassador. 

Kacy got involved with the organization first as a volunteer. The Citizens program gave Kacy the opportunity to take her commitment to Best Buddies a step further and be matched in a one-to-one friendship. Kacy is also participating in the first annual Best Buddies Indiana Champion of the Year Competition. A competition between a group of Best Buddies volunteers, participants, and community members, to raise money for Best Buddies Indiana during a limited amount of time. 

Here is a little bit about Kacy and Laura's friendship:

What's your favorite thing to do together?
Laura and I both love to cook, bake and try new restaurants when we’re together.  She’s a bit more adventurous than I am and she’s introduced me to some of her favorite Indian food spots in the city. We just started swapping recipes back and forth when we see each other so we can still try new recipes when we’re not together.  It’s only fitting that she is helping my Champion of the Year campaign by hosting a giveback night at Greeks Pizzeria in her hometown, Zionsville. Come stop by on October 16^th.

What do you like most about being involved with Citizens?

I really loved how natural the process was. The Best Buddies team really gets to know each person interested in becoming matched so they can pair him or her with the right person. I wasn’t involved in Best Buddies in high school or college and Citizens gives me the opportunity to be a part of what I was missing.

Laura, what’s your favorite thing about Kacy? 

Kacy and I like to have fun together. Kacy, my family, friends and I went to India Garden.

Kacy, what’s your favorite thing about Laura? 

My favorite thing about Laura is her laugh and how it spreads to everyone near her. Laura can be a strong silent type at first but once she opens up or talks about her dog, Daisy, she doesn’t stop smiling. It’s contagious.

Kacy, what motivated you to sign up to do Champion of the Year? Any big plans?

Juli Miller, former Best Buddies Indiana State Director, first introduced me to the Champion campaign this past spring. She has such a gift for connecting people with a mission and I immediately signed on after speaking with her. 

I wanted to tell the story of Best Buddies and help to be the voice of those who may not be in the unique position I am. I’ve really gotten behind the mission in the past two years since I’ve been involved in Best Buddies. I want to spread the mission to my peers, to the Indianapolis community and beyond my own reach. That’s what motivated me to becoming involved with Champion of the Year.

Big plans?
My family and friends are the best and have helped me plan and execute ideas to reach more people with the mission and bring funds back to a great cause. I have a few more events lined up throughout October that couldn’t have happened without them. I am also selling “Everybuddy is a Champion” t-shirts for $20 and ALL proceeds go back to Best Buddies.  Purchase one here: www.kacywendling.wix.com/championshirts

You can read more about Kacy's story and the Champion of the Year campaign here: BBIN Champion of the Year

Focus on Friendship: Amelia and Tarinagi

Amelia Anderson and Tarinagi Trinh are friends that attend Riverside Intermediate Jr. High School in Fishers, Indiana. Amelia was a 6^th grader and Tarinagi was a 5th grader this past school year and they both joined Best Buddies and formed an amazing friendship, spending valuable time to ether in and out of school.  Their friendship demonstrates the positive impact of Best Buddies in the school and community!

Why are you friends? 

Tarinagi: I like to talk to her! 

Amelia: He makes me smile!

During school, when did you enjoy spending time together? 

Both: When we were in the Teacher’s Lounge, we enjoyed helping each other sell candy.

What was your favorite in-school Best Buddies activity? 

Both: Our favorite school activities were our recreation days and cookie decorating in December before Winter Break.

What was your favorite out of school Best Buddies activity?

Ice-skating for thirty minutes was fun. Meeting some Indiana Pacers players was fun when we went to the game.

To learn more about Riverside's Best Buddies chapter, Indiana's Outstanding Middle School Chapter for 2013-2014, check out the video below.

Brian & Sam

Brian Ambrose and Sam Shelley are friends from Brownsburg High School. Both are in the 9^th grade and have been friends since Kindergarten. Growing up, Sam and Brian would hang out together inside and outside of school. This year, Brian decided to become involved in Best Buddies where he could spend more time with is life-long friend Sam. Through Best Buddies, the two have been able to continue and strengthen their friendship.

How long have you been involved in Best Buddies?

Sam has been a part of Best Buddies since middle school. Brian joined this year because of his friend Sam. 

What's your favorite thing about Brian?

Brian always has my back.

What's your favorite thing about Sam?

He is goofy and fun to be around.

What do you and Brian like to do together?

We like to play video games together and go to the pool.

Below is a picture of Brian and Sam and the rest of their chapter at  Brownsburg High School's End of the Year Party.

Shawn & Maddie

Shawn and Maddie at the 2014 BBIN Black & White Ball

We could share countless stories of friendships that have been made in our programs throughout the state of Indiana. Many times, these friendships begin when two people are matched in a friendship. However, sometimes there are special friendships that develop outside of a one-to-one friendship. 

Shawn and Maddie have one of these friendships. Members of the Purdue Best Buddies chapter, the pair has never officially been matched, but have developed a strong friendship and partnership as leaders in their chapter.

As she graduates this month, Shawn wanted to honor Maddie by telling everyone about what her friendship means to him.

What does Best Buddies mean to you?

It gives me hope, Best Buddies does. That there can be a better world for this generation. Best Buddies means true friendships.

What's your favorite thing about Maddie?

Her passion to help others

What do you and Maddie like to together?

We don't really hang out much, but when we do, just being around her makes me happy. She pushes me hard and is my biggest fan, but holds me accountable when I need it.

How has Best Buddies and your friendship changed your life?

It gives me a reason to believe in my self and others again. It gives me a reason to smile again.

Why do you think others should join Best Buddies?

So they can be a part of an amazing program like Best Buddies that promotes acceptance and inclusion for everyone, because that's really what all of us want.

Lauren Wendling, college program manager for BBIN, said about the pair, "Shawn and Maddie are a true representation of Best Buddies.  They have a very natural friendship and support each other in all aspects of their lives."