For many high school students, it can be incredibly difficult to identify exactly where they belong. For some, it can even take years to discover a group with a solid foundation where they can be completely themselves. Luckily, Westford Academy has spent the last few years building a club where people can do exactly this. It involves a diverse group of students across grade levels collectively coming together for one purpose. This club is called Best Buddies.
Best Buddies is not only a club at WA, but also an international non-profit organization. At WA, Best Buddies brings together students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD’s) and students who do not have IDD’s to foster an inclusive environment for friendships, as well as allowing students with IDD’s to be involved in everyday school activities they may not otherwise be able to access.
Best Buddies has been a significant part of the WA community for many years, but the club has taken a turn for the better over the past decade as their efforts to increase inclusivity have paid off. This led to last year being Best Buddies’ most successful year and largest class yet, with seven graduates with IDD’s walking across the stage and securing their diplomas.
Now, to keep last year’s efforts going, Best Buddies has roughly 90 highly involved members who are working to hold and attend club meetings every Wednesday after school. During these meetings, they organize fun events such as crafts or games to strengthen the bond between students with and without IDD’s. Best Buddies also holds events to fundraise and bring awareness to the club.
“The best part of last year was [how hard we worked] to give the [students with IDDs] an outlet for things to do, and they did everything with [the students],” Dean Betsy Murphy said. “They really doubled down on everything last year, and I think it’s really set the tone moving forward.”
Best Buddies does extend much further than just club activities. In fact, one of the largest advancements Best Buddies has made this school year is the Unified Sports branch of the club. Although the program only began last year with Unified Track, this year Best Buddies has already added on Unified Basketball. Both of these sports teams have drawn in large crowds who cheer on the students involved.
“I think the school does a good job of voicing the events and making them known, and everyone is also really good at showing up and getting involved,” sophomore Best Buddies Junior Officer Amelia Brown said.
Moreover, not only does Best Buddies offer Unified Sports, they also established the Special Olympics, which they began two years ago. This large event contributes to Best Buddies by helping fundraise for the club and bringing together students with IDD’s from multiple towns. Many students, whether a part of Best Buddies or not, gather together to cheer on their peers.
Unlike other sports at WA that encourage a highly competitive environment, Unified Sports and the Special Olympics do not have a winner. Instead, they aim to simply bring everyone together and provide another way for students with IDDs to feel included in the community.
“Unified [Sports] are great, it really gets the kids into the sports,” Murphy said. “[…] It’s just fun for everyone to do the same events that everyone else is doing in track and basketball, just in a different space.”
Since Best Buddies has made such an impact on the school and formed such a large community, this year they were able to introduce yet another fundraising event. By working with Student Council (STUCO), WA organized the Polar Plunge, which served as a fundraiser for the upcoming Special Olympics this spring.
“STUCO did such a great job organizing WA’s first ever Polar Plunge,” senior Best Buddies Vice President Leah Bordenca said. “Best Buddies was so lucky to be able to raise money and also be able to jump into the pool.”
Not only has Best Buddies become a much larger movement at the school for students with IDD’s, it also has benefitted the students without IDD’s participating in it. According to Murphy, years ago they had trouble recruiting people to be part of the club, and now their biggest problem is having too many participants. However, the reasons behind the club’s widespread popularity are no mystery. Best Buddies is both a way for people to feel a part of something larger and create connections with others, while also being able to give back to the community, letting both parties make the most out of the experience.
“I think just being there for the buddies and being involved in their activities makes a big impact on their lives, and also creates lifelong friendships,” Brown said. “You’re making an impact on somebody’s life, and you know that you’re being a good person not only for the buddies but everyone around you. It’s just a great way to spread positivity.”
Best Buddies has made a huge impact on the school, especially in the last few years. It fosters inclusivity, creates connections among groups and grades, and allows people to enjoy themselves while doing so. With the environment that has been created, Best Buddies plans to keep growing and optimizing their resources as best as they can in future years.
“Best Buddies [has] always been something I look forward to going to, I enjoy spending time with everyone involved and it gives me a great sense of pride knowing the impact it has on others,” Bordenca said.
