Miyanda and Will

Before joining Best Buddies, Will Kennedy had difficulty talking to kids with disabilities. When he did talk to them, it was usually a very short conversation and he didn’t make much more of it. Once he joined Conway High School Best Buddies, Will quickly realized that the members surpassed his perception of people with disabilities. He recalls walking into the club’s meeting space as a room “filled with joy and so much energy.”

This year, Will was matched with Miyanda through his school’s Best Buddies club. They connected immediately on their common love of sports and began hanging out all the time in the classroom and on the football field, where Will plays for Conway. Thanks to their friendship, Miyanda was even able to become one of the managers of the Conway High School Football team. They regularly get together outside of school to play Madden Football. You can also find Will and Miyanda at their local iHop, sharing some grub and continuing learning from each other.

One of the things that Will has learned from his buddy Miyanda is to be thankful for what he has. Miyanda’s positivity has also taught Will that tough times and situations can always be overcome with a good attitude. In turn, Will has helped his buddy grow to have a greater love for football. You can always see Miyanda cheering on Will from the sidelines at football games and giving him a hug after every good or bad play. They encourage and lift each other up, and that is what Best Buddies friendships are all about.

Miyanda has definitely fed off of Will’s boldness by joining the Conway High School Wrestling team. With the extra boost of confidence, he was able to defeat the state champion of Arkansas and said, “Pinning him down was the best feeling I’ve had.”

Will and Miyanda’s friendship is an incredible example of what our chapters strive for. We strive for inclusion, friendship, and love. And with love being the greatest, we can do it all. The impact that this buddy pair have had on each other is truly inspiring to others. “Life is better with him. I’m going to miss him when he leaves, and I love him”, says Miyanda about Will.

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