On the first day of 5th grade, I met Gianna while looking for a place to sit a lunch. Her broad smile permeated through the room and was impossible to ignore. I felt in my heart that I was supposed to sit next to Gianna and I am incredibly grateful for my decision to do so. Gianna has Down Syndrome, but that is certainly not what defines her. She is whole-heartedly the most loving, caring, and spirited person I have ever met. From that day that we sat with Gianna at lunch she taught me how to love and educated me on the importance of inclusion. As I went through middle school, I was inspired to become involved in inclusion programs such as Miracle League and a program called S.O.A.R.E. Here, I had the opportunity to learn about different types of disabilities and how I could help to ensure my peers felt included and welcomed in our community. In high school, I wanted to be able to continue to foster this friendship between all the students in the school. I found out there was an inclusive friendship club called Best Buddies; however, in the wake of COVID, the club was struggling. I decided to take on the role of president of the club in an attempt to put the club in the right direction and encourage more inclusion throughout the school. After sharing my passion with the club I was able to add over 160 active members and teach them the value of inclusion. As a club, we hold events monthly and encourage one-on-one friendships between peer buddies. At this point the impact Best Buddies has had on the school is unquestionable. This was put in perspective for me when I walked behind Draven, one of our club members with Autism, in the hall one day. As he walked, every 5 seconds, I would hear another high school student say hello and greet Draven. Draven, who was known as a reserved kid coming into high school, was smiling from ear to ear as he said hello back to these students. It was gratifying to understand the extent to which our clubs' mission of inclusion had been integrated into our high school and the positive influence the friendships had on all of our students. Along with Best Buddies I had the opportunity to be a part of the first Unified Bocce team that Bethel Park High School has put together. With my busy schedule, I was unsure if I should commit myself to the Bocce team; however, knowing the mission of the Special Olympics sport and the positive impact it would have on the school I felt that it was imperative that I participate. I am eternally indebted for my decision to do so, as my time on the Bocce team was more rewarding than any other activity I have ever been a part of. The team had success on the court, but most importantly we found success in creating an environment where all of the students felt encouraged and confident. I had the opportunity to be Gianna’s partner on this team and this experience put into perspective how full circle our friendship was. One day, I was deciding to sit next to her at lunch, and nearly 8 years later I was playing at a regional Bocce competition with her. Here, I truly understood the impact of my decision to sit with Gianna, and am grateful that I can continue to carry the lessons she taught me into college and beyond.