Cal Poly brags of its hundreds of clubs and organizations, all with different goals and purposes. However, with so many options available it can be difficult to sift through and see what would really work for you. I had the opportunity to interview the Vice President of the Cal Poly SLO Best Buddies Chapter, Kayla Shanafelt, and I think it is safe to say that this is a club that everyone should be a part of.Â
Best Buddies is a national nonprofit organization committed to creating a more inclusive world by fostering meaningful one-on-one friendships between volunteers and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This allows students to actively engage in the community and meet people outside of the Cal Poly bubble, while also connecting with their peers on a deeper level.Â
Kayla Shanafelt is a third year Agricultural Communication major at Cal Poly who got involved in Best Buddies her freshman year after seeing them booth at the club fair. When asked what her favorite memory was at Best Buddies, she explained “The Valentines Dance was really fun and everyone was dressed up in cute pink and red dresses. The DJ actually didn’t work so we were holding the music through a cup” to amplify the sound “…and we were all just singing along. It was a really sweet moment. Even though everything wasn’t going our way, we still had a good time.”Â
Best Buddies Club also puts on weekly game nights, sports events and so much more. Organizations from across San Luis Obispo come together to make these events happen including Cal Poly sororities, Cuesta’s Grizzly Youth Academy, and the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center creating a space for people from every walk of life on the Central Coast to come together for a common mission.Â
When asked if being a part of Best Buddies impacted Shanafelt’s time at Cal Poly, she said “It made me feel very connected not just to Cal Poly community but to the SLO community because there are people from Arroyo Grande, Paso, Atascadero, and all different areas in SLO county that participate. I feel like I would have never had the opportunity to meet these people and other club members without becoming part of Best Buddies. Overall, a very positive impact!”
In a campus full of wonderful options, Best Buddies stands out as more than just another club. It offers students a meaningful way to build genuine connections and make a lasting impact beyond Cal Poly.