|
By Georgia Fishe
Staff Writer
Park Cities People, Dallas, TX
Ask anyone at Highland Park High School: Patrick O’Boyle is the big man on campus.
“Everyone loves Patrick for sure,” said senior Meredith Barnes, who partners with him in a one-on-one program called Best Buddies.
Patrick, who has Down syndrome, is an equipment manager for the Scots basketball and SMU football teams. With his broad circle of friends, past homecoming crown, and cameo appearances on the basketball court, he’s got all the ingredients for high-school swagger — but he’d probably rather give you a hug.
A few years ago, Barnes watched from the sidelines as her older brother, Art, befriended Patrick through the Best Buddies program.
“Patty’s one of those kids you meet a couple times and just want to hang out with again as soon as possible,” said Art, who did most everything with O’Boyle — “from going to eat, to playing basketball together, to going to see movies,” he said. “We hit the whole spectrum ... and he’s actually one of the best basketball shooters you’ve ever seen.“
When Art left in 2008 for Texas A&M, his sister jumped in to fill his shoes. “I really wanted that close friendship with Patrick, too,” said Meredith. The two have attended a Best Buddies dance, gone out for ice cream, and even watched Patrick’s favorite movie, Hannah Montana.
Founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989, Best Buddies uses work opportunities and volunteer-matching arrangements like Patrick and Meredith’s to help those with special needs get comfortable in a public setting. “In an non-Best Buddies high school, students with special needs can be terrified to walk the halls,” said state director Kent Lofton. “It’s not the lack of skill that keeps special-needs students underemployed. It’s the lack of socialization.” But being social isn’t much of a problem for Patrick. “He just walks around like he owns the place,” said Meredith, “and he really kind of does.”
A pep rally last Friday proved as much, when Dallas Mavericks mascot Champ bounded onto the gym floor to help deliver some big news: Patrick is soon to get a taste of his dream. He’s always wanted to be the team’s equipment manager, and tonight he’ll work a fan jam at the American Airlines Center.
The announcement fell upon a gym full of screaming, howling students — including a fleet of boys who whooped Patrick’s name as he accepted a Dirk Nowitzki jersey with a quiet smile. Nowitzki is his favorite player, he explained later as he recited scores and stats for the Mavs and SMU. “First thing in the morning, he runs and gets the newspaper so he can see the sports section, and he lets us know who’s playing and how everyone’s doing,” said Patrick’s mother, Peggy O’Boyle.
Patrick, 20, graduated from HPHS in 2007 but is still technically enrolled as a senior, which allows him to participate in Best Buddies and help the athletes in the locker room and during games.
“I’m not sure they realize what it does for him,” Peggy said of the Best Buddies program and students like Meredith and Art — who still stays in touch with Patrick.
It just means the world.”
|
