High school can be a difficult time for so many young people.
There are a plethora of cliques and crowds, and many students never get the chance to choose which fits them best, they’re forced into circles based on superficial qualities like their looks.
It’s no wonder that so many movies document this tumultuous time in people’s lives—from being popular to being snubbed by the popular crowd, everyone has stories from high school. And few would ever want to go back.
In this sweet local news story, two teens proved everyone wrong by bridging social gaps that are so common in high school and participating in an iconic high school event together.
And this unlikely couple went to prom together.
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Claire and Chip both go to Middletown High School. They travel in different crowds but they met through a program called Circle of Friends that pairs special need kids with other students in peer groups to facilitate socializing across groups.
The program paired Claire and Chip together, and their friendship began immediately. The two have become close friends.
Chip is a varsity soccer player. Claire has a genetic chromosomal disorder. Though this obviously doesn’t mean the two can’t be friends, the laws of high school usually dictate that athletes are on the top tier of the social ladder and don’t interact much with other students.
The two have shown their peers that friendship transcends these superficial boundaries.
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With her hand-written note, Claire decided to ask Chip to go to the prom with her. Chip immediately said yes and gave Claire a big hug.
According to Chip, his friendship with Claire has had a hugely positive impact on his life. He views the world differently because of her.
Claire is excited to go to prom with her friend. She picked out a sparkly dress for the big event.
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Their friendship proves not only the value of the Circle of Friends program at Middletown High School but also the reality that high school doesn’t have to be a stratified student body where young people follow strict rules about interacting with each other.
Students of all identities and abilities can be friends.
This is a lesson that is worth told to many adults as well!