For Sarina De Bartolo and Neil Samant, starting a Best Buddies chapter at Lauremont School meant more than simply leading a school club. As twelfth-grade students in Lauremont’s academically rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) program, much of their time is spent in classrooms with the same people each day. Best Buddies gave them the “opportunity to branch outside of their bubble”, build relationships beyond their school walls, and learn more about themselves as leaders.
Neil’s interest in starting a Best Buddies chapter began in Grade 10 after volunteering at an extensive-needs clinic, where he had the opportunity to interact closely with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). When he shared the experience with his friends at school, he was surprised that many of them had never interacted with someone with an IDD before. He saw that there was a need to increase awareness about IDD and wanted to help his school community experience the same meaningful connections that he had.
Best Buddies also resonated with Sarina because of a personal connection. “I have a younger cousin with an IDD who I was very close to growing up,” Sarina shares. “He would tell me how he felt excluded at school and in other activities.”
When Neil approached her about bringing Best Buddies to Lauremont, Sarina saw an opportunity to make a difference in her community. The partnership was a natural fit and they immediately started putting plans into action.
They began by establishing a partnership with Bayview Secondary School, where Buddies were paired in one-to-one friendships with Lauremont’s Peer Buddies. The students began getting to know one another through pen-pal emails and virtual group activities like icebreakers and Pictionary. For their first in-person meeting, they planned an afternoon at a local Tim Hortons.
Meeting face to face gave Sarina and Neil a chance to see relationships developing in ways that were difficult to capture through a screen. Connections blossomed over donuts and hot chocolate as the group played countless rounds of board games and Uno. Students who had initially been strangers were able to share a space, laugh, play games, and form friendships that might never have existed without Best Buddies.
One thing Sarina admired most about the Bayview students was how genuine they were. They weren’t afraid to share what they were passionate about, which helped the group bond quickly over shared interests and build natural friendships. She also noticed a change in students’ confidence over the course of the afternoon. “From the start of that in-person session to the end, it was a very big difference,” she says.
Neil noticed a similar shift in his own friendship. He and his buddy were sitting away from the larger group, playing Blokus one-on-one, when Neil asked whether he wanted to join the others. His buddy explained that he sometimes felt anxious in larger groups and would prefer to stay where they were, just the two of them. To Neil, his buddy’s openness and honesty was a reflection of the trust they had built and a sign that he felt comfortable around him.
As they continued playing, Neil realized he was making moves as quickly as possible and wasn’t fully present in the game. His buddy encouraged him to slow down, take a deep breath, and remember that it was okay to take his time.
That moment stayed with Neil. He recognized how often he approaches things with a need to move quickly and do more. His buddy’s advice was a welcome reminder to relax and live in the moment.
Since that first in-person meeting, Sarina and Neil have developed a deeper understanding of what inclusion looks like in practice. “It’s more than performing a single act of kindness,” Sarina explains. “It’s a mindset – one that encourages people to notice who may be feeling left out and make an effort so they feel supported.”
That mindset is what both students have come to value about Best Buddies. In a high school environment where students can easily stay within familiar social circles, the program has encouraged them to look beyond those boundaries and connect with people they might otherwise never have met.
Their role as Chapter Presidents has also shaped the way they view leadership. “We’re both pretty active in leadership outside of Best Buddies,” Sarina says, “but it’s given us a different version of leadership. Leadership’s about making sure everyone feels valued, not just about who’s the loudest in the room. What matters more is empowering and including everyone involved.”
As Sarina and Neil begin their senior year, they’re already thinking about the chapter’s legacy. They hope that the friendships and sense of community created through Best Buddies will continue long after they graduate from Lauremont. To make that possible, they plan on finding younger students who can take over the chapter.
Their advice to those future leaders is simple: don’t overthink it.
“The main message of Best Buddies is that everyone deserves friendship and to feel valued and supported,” Neil explains. “With that mindset, you don’t have to overthink it. The people in the club really make it what it is.”
Ultimately, Sarina and Neil hope their work with Best Buddies leaves a lasting impact on their school community. By encouraging students to look beyond their social circles and make space for new connections, they’re helping create a welcoming school culture where everyone feels included and valued.