I’M IN TO IMPACT

BEFORE BEST BUDDIES… Your story before you joined Best Buddies is a crucial part of the impact you will be able to have as you engage others in the mission.

YOUR JOURNEY TO BEST BUDDIES WILL The choices and experiences that led you to join will resonate with others and allow you to reach certain people that no one else would be able to. YOUR JOURNEY TO BEST BUDDIES WILL RESONATE WITH OTHERS

UNIQUE & IMPORTANT YOUR STORY IS Keeping in mind that your story is unique, this session will explore your story and your experiences.

TAKE NOTES ABOUT… The next set of questions will help you explore your experiences before you got involved in Best Buddies, joining your chapter, and your early involvement.

WHAT ACTIVITIES DID YOU DO BEFORE BEST BUDDIES? HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT BEST BUDDIES? WHAT DID IT TAKE TO GET YOU TO COMMIT? HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU FIRST JOINED? Discuss and jot down notes about these questions.

YOU JOINED BEST BUDDIES AFTER YOU JOINED BEST BUDDIES Discuss how things are now, after having joined Best Buddies.

DISCUSS & WRITE DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS (GROUPS OF 3-4) Now that we've all identified how unique our journeys to joining Best Buddies are, let's talk about what happened after you joined together to pursue the same mission. DISCUSS & WRITE DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS (GROUPS OF 3-4)

WHEN YOU FIRST JOINED BEST BUDDIES, WHAT MADE YOU MOST EXCITED? WHAT IS ONE WAY YOU ARE MAKING AN IMPACT THROUGH YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH BEST BUDDIES? DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAS A DIFFERENT STORY? HOW CAN YOU USE YOUR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES & STORIES TO PROMOTE BEST BUDDIES AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN? Discuss these questions with 3-4 people around you. Encourage Students to write down thoughts as you discuss:

COMBINE YOUR JOURNEY TO JOINING BEST BUDDIES WITH YOUR YOUR IMPACT STORY COMBINE YOUR JOURNEY TO JOINING BEST BUDDIES WITH YOUR CURRENT INVOLVEMENT. REMEMBER TO INCLUDE… WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE BEFORE JOINING WHY YOU JOINED WHY THE MISSION IS IMPORTANT TO YOU WHAT KEEPS YOU ENGAGED HOW YOU ARE IMPACTING YOUR COMMUNITY WHY OTHERS SHOULD GET INVOLVED On a piece of paper, combine your journey to joining Best Buddies with your current involvement to create your impact story. Write out on a separate piece of paper.

REVIEW &WRAP-UP Ask for volunteers to share their story. As an alternative to no one wanting to talk/not being finished, facilitate discussion about why their current involvement with Best Buddies is strengthened by their personal journey that led them there. Make sure that students understand that all of us have different reasons/experiences that lead us to Best Buddies, and since different people will relate to different stories, we each have the opportunity to reach and influence unique participants.