Best Buddy Beginnings: New Friendships form between Oakes Children’s Center and International High School in San Francisco

By Shelly Helgeson

Nerves were running rampant as everyone prepared to meet their Buddy or Peer Buddy for the first time last Wednesday, November 30^th at Oakes Children’s Center.   It was the first official meeting of the newly formed Best  Buddies chapter at Oakes Children’s Center where high schools students with intellectual or developmental disabilities are matched in one-to-one friendships with high school students who attend the private academic International High School.  

There were a lot of firsts that night: the first time the schools came together, the first time Chapter President, Kelsey Boylan led a meeting of this kind, the first time Buddies met their Peer Buddies, and conversely, the first time Peer Buddies met their Buddies.  However, nerves were quickly quelled when Program Manager, Katelyn Bollenbacher led the group in an icebreaker exercise which had the entire group running and high-fiving each other when she called out interests that students had in common.  It’s interesting how quickly everyone relaxes when they focus on similarities instead of differences in people.

After the icebreaker the Buddies and Peer Buddies found out who their match was to be for the year and sat down to spend some quiet time getting to know each other and playing board games.  This time was really the most rewarding moment for me, the Program Supervisor, who has spent many hours in meetings and writing emails (since last January!!!) in attempts to start a chapter at Oakes Children’s Center and find a suitable school of Peer Buddies to partner with them.  

I watched several of the Buddy Pairs instantly “click” as they talked about what they liked to do in school or during their free time.  One Buddy Pair in particular made me grin from ear-to-ear when he met his Peer Buddy and immediately shouted, “Oh my gosh, that’s so cool! She likes to dance!!!”  His arm was around her by the end of the meeting and I got that warm feeling that usually indicates a meaningful friendship is forming thanks to the hard work not only I, but the student leadership and advisors put into establishing this Best Buddies Chapter.  

My work providing opportunities for friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Bay Area is far from being complete, but at least with a new chapter at Oakes Children’s Center, I’m one step closer.