09/15/2026
🎭💗 BEST BUDDIES | CREATING A PLACE TO BELONG
Best Buddies is officially beginning at Locust Grove High School! This theatre mentorship program was created to bridge the gap between underclassmen and upperclassmen and make sure every student feels seen, heard, included, and connected.
This week, our upperclassmen mentors participated in interviews to help us intentionally select students who represent the heart of Best Buddies mentors who are kind, responsible, mature, welcoming, and committed to advocating for, motivating, and incorporating their mentees into our theatre family.
Because mentorship is more than just having someone to talk to. It’s about having someone who will introduce you to others, answer your questions, encourage you to step outside your comfort zone, celebrate your accomplishments, and remind you that you belong here. 💗
Best Buddies is especially personal to me. When I was a freshman, I experienced bullying for being different and struggled to find a community where I felt like I belonged. I also faced negativity surrounding being a freshman who earned a role that others felt I was too young to deserve.
Those experiences are a big part of why I created Best Buddies. I never want another student to feel like they have to navigate theatre alone or question whether they deserve to be there.
As President of Thespian Troupe 8429, my goal is to leave behind a program that makes our theatre community more inclusive for the generations that come after us.
Through mentorship, activities, and outreach to our middle schools, we’re building connections, fostering a love for theatre and the arts, and helping prepare the next generation of Thespians to find their voice and their place in our community.
Everyone deserves a place where they can be themselves, be supported, and belong. 🎭✨
This is Best Buddies.
This is the legacy we’re building. 💗
