I am a rising junior at The Madeira School where I play tennis and participate in Model UN. In my free time, I love to cook and bake. I was introduced to Best Buddies through my school’s chapter and have enjoyed being part of this incredible community.

As I take on this new State Ambassador role, I am most excited about collaborating with other Ambassadors to help create a more inclusive community for all. Additionally, I look forward to advocating for Best Buddies to promote their mission and increase community engagement.

I joined Best Buddies because I had a close friend who was a member of the club and spoke so positively about the experience. I was inspired to learn more about the organization and how I could contribute because my values aligned closely with the mission of Best Buddies.

Shadowing the Best Buddies VA & DC State Director, Molly Whalen, for a day gave me a better understanding of the work that happens at the state level of Best Buddies. This helped me appreciate the effort required to run such a large organization and understand how I could support Best Buddies both within and outside of my school’s chapter. I learned valuable leadership skills that I can apply to my role as a Best Buddies member.

This experience inspired me to become secretary of my school’s Best Buddies chapter. I felt inspired to take on a leadership role to help make a positive impact. Experiencing leadership at the state level motivated me to contribute to my own chapter. I am looking forward to planning activities that help connect with other chapters in Virginia and DC and participating in events such as the Best Buddies Homecoming and Friendship Walk.

I attended the Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC) at Indiana University this summer with other chapter leaders from Virginia and DC. My favorite memory from BBLC was hearing inspiring stories from speakers who shared their personal experiences with Best Buddies. Additionally, I loved connecting with Best Buddies members from across the country and hearing about their unique ideas.