Interview with Buddy Club's Third Former Vice President
Originally posted on August 8, 2020 on Facebook Notes on my Facebook page (with some information added to the introduction due to updates in Lauren's career and education)
I hope you enjoy reading about Lauren as much as I did! 😊
1. What made you want to join Buddy Club?
Ever since elementary school, I have had a special bond with the Life Skills students and absolutely loved hanging out and playing with them at recess. Those bonds carried on throughout middle school and all the way to my senior year of high school. The friendships that I have had with them are so special and unique. Our time spent together is so fun, genuine, and natural...it was that which made me want to join Buddy Club. Fortunately, I was reunited with one of my good friends, Dylan Thomas, early on in my freshman year of high school. He introduced me to a bunch of his classmates and teachers who I began spending deal of time and building friendships with. Soon after, Mrs. McCaffrey told me about the Buddy Club, and I immediately fell in love. From that moment on, I found myself spending any free time I had during my school day in the Life Skills classroom while loving every moment of it.
2. What are you interested in doing after high school?
After high school, I am planning to attend college. It is hard to know exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life at age seventeen, but it is the experiences that I have had and the memories that I have made in Buddy Club that have made that easier for me. Once employed, I want to be ale to enjoy my job and feel like I am not working a day in my life, and I think that being a Special Education teacher would fulfill this wish for me. I love working with special needs students, and it is definitely something that I would be lucky to be able to do for the rest of my life.
UPDATE: Lauren just graduated from Lower Moreland High School this week and she has committed to attending Tulane University as a business major in the fall! Lower Moreland Buddy Club and I are so proud of her! :)
3. How many years have you been involved in Buddy Club?
This will be my fourth year involved in Buddy Club.
4. What do you like the most about Buddy Club?
It is so difficult to pick one thing that I like most about Buddy Club just because everything about it is so great! One thing that I love about Buddy Club is the bonds that I have built with the students. Because I am able to spend a good amount of time with them, I have learned so much about each individual student. I love all of their unique personalities, stories, and backgrounds. Seeing a smile wipe onto their face when I walk into the classroom is something unlike anything else. Additionally, not only am I helping students each day, but I feel as though Buddy Club has made me a better person and strengthened my character in a variety of aspects. It has taught me to be a more caring, understanding, and patient person which are attributes that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
5. What has been your favorite memory with Buddy Club?
One of my most favorite memories with Buddy Club is being the emcee at this year's annual Buddy Club Lip Sync Show. I was able to cheer on the students and make them feel more confident before and after their amazing performances. I also loved being able to watch them enjoy themselves on stage and unleash personalities while performing that would typically not come out in a classroom environment.
6. What is your favorite thing to do with the Life Skills students?
Honestly, my
favorite thing to do with the Life Skills students is to hang out with them in
the apartment and read a book together, or just talk. I feel as though the
little moments with them are the best ones. They always have great stories or
jokes to tell me that always brighten my day. If I am ever having a tough day
at school or feel stressed, I know that walking into the Life Skills classroom
and hanging out with the students will immediately make everything better.
7. Why do you think people struggle to understand and/or engage with the disability community?
I think that people struggle to understand and/or engage with the special needs community because they do not necessarily know how to interact with individuals that have special needs. I think that people are hesitant that they may say or do something that could trigger or upset someone in the special needs community.
8. It is obvious that you and the Life Skills students have a very close friendship. What is one of your favorite memories together?
One of my
favorite memories is with a Life Skills student that I have been close with for
most of my life, Dylan Thomas. In the beginning of last school year, I received
a very thoughtful email from Dylan, asking me to be his escort for the
homecoming assembly and game. Receiving this email was so special, and I felt
so honored that he wanted me to walk alongside him at these special events. We
had so much fun during the assembly in our pajamas and then getting dressed up
for the football game was even better. After we walked down the field, Dylan
was announced homecoming royalty!!! This was one of my favorite memories
because watching Dylan so happy made me feel even happier, and it really made me
reflect on my awesome friendship with Dylan!
9. 9. How do you encourage people to honor
the uniqueness of each individual?
I encourage people to honor the uniqueness of each individual by having them think about their positive qualities that are unique to themselves. After that person identifies their own positive qualities, I then remind them that each individual in the world contributes something amazing and unique to the world. Without everyone's incredible and different qualities, the world would not be as unique as it is, thus we must all honor and accept what each individual brings to our world.
10. Thank you so much for being a part of Buddy Club. What have been the three most valuable things you have learned through your experience working with the disability community?
There are so
many valuable things that I have learned through my experiences working with
the special needs community. Being able to work with students that have special
needs has helped me to view things from a different lens and to appreciate the
smallest acts of kindness and their huge positive impact. Additionally, I have
learned to be a more patient person and learned to become an advocate for those
who cannot advocate for themselves while loving every moment of it.
Thank you
so much for being such a true buddy, Lauren! I always knew you were a true
buddy and passionate about the club from the first day I met you. Reading
about how your friendship with the Life Skills students started all the way back in
elementary school shows how true you are for sure. I knew Dylan ran for and won
homecoming court, but I did not know that you were his escort and the fact that
you were makes me even happier! You are a true friend to the Life Skills
students and your friendship with them is how any friendship should be. Your
character shows that you live by acknowledging that disabilities do not define
anyone and realize that they are just like everyone else in so many ways. All
of this makes me even happier that I picked you for a buddy interview. Thank
you for agreeing to this opportunity and for being who you are!
If you are not already, please follow Lauren's food influencer page on Instagram to see and learn more about her passion for baking: @lookhowyummy
If you have not already, please like the Lower Moreland Buddy Club on Facebook and follow on Instagram to show your support:
Facebook
page: Lower Moreland Buddy Club
Instagram: @lmhs_buddyclub
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