{"id":93801,"date":"2017-05-30T10:18:05","date_gmt":"2017-05-30T14:18:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?p=93801"},"modified":"2021-04-15T17:17:25","modified_gmt":"2021-04-15T21:17:25","slug":"best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seacoastonline.com<\/a><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Lara Bricker newsletter@seacoastonline.com<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

\"SeaCoast<\/a>EXETER \u2014 There was one person Darci Joyce couldn\u2019t wait to see as she got ready for her junior prom Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cKalie\u2019s here,\u201d Darci yelled as she bolted out the front door of her home and into the arms of her best friend Kalie-Ann Nassoura.<\/p>\n

The two embraced repeatedly before they made their way inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so excited,\u201d Kalie-Ann, a senior who lives in Stratham said. \u201cAre you so excited?\u201d<\/p>\n

Darci beamed and clapped her hands together in joy.<\/p>\n

And then it was time for the girls to get ready for their prom, complete with a good dose of laughter and a lot of anticipation. They raced upstairs to Darci\u2019s room. Their dresses hung side by side as Kalie-Ann arranged Darci in good lighting by the window to do her makeup; Darci\u2019s blue and pink two-piece floral dress next to Kalie-Ann\u2019s elegant blue gown.<\/p>\n

As for what she was most excited for about the prom, Darci did not hesitate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boys,\u201d she said as she smiled and clapped. \u201cIn tuxedos.\u201d<\/p>\n

Darci, a junior, and Kalie-Ann, a senior, have been fast friends for the past two years, ever since the day Kalie-Ann noticed the other girl hiding her face behind a Star Magazine during a food and nutrition class at EHS. Kalie-Ann is a dancer; Darci a cheerleader. But what began their friendship was neither.<\/p>\n

For the past two years, the two teenagers have bonded through the Best Buddies Program, which promotes one on one friendships between able-bodied students and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.<\/p>\n

Kalie-Ann had just watched a video about the Best Buddies program, and as someone with several family members with special needs, the Stratham teen felt a strong urge to get involved in the new program at EHS. It seemed like fate that afternoon when she looked over at Darci and her Star Magazine. She knew exactly who she wanted for her buddy and put in a request to be paired with Darci.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was meant to be,\u201d Kalie-Ann said. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing different or special about the fact that Darci\u2019s in special education; she\u2019s just my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Darci was born with Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes a range of developmental problems including learning disabilities and cognitive impairment. Though school work has been challenging, her joyful personality has helped her find a place with her peers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing that\u2019s always carried Darci is the social piece,\u201d her dad Bruce Joyce said. \u201cShe\u2019s so friendly to others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bruce, who substitutes at EHS, says everyone knows Darci in the hallways. Her mother Bev Hodsdon agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s like the mayor,\u201d Bev said, adding other students are drawn to her because, \u201cshe\u2019s sweet and kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the Best Buddies program holds a monthly activity, Kalie-Ann and Darci soon started hanging out on their own. They walk around downtown Exeter together, get their nails done, and sing Darci\u2019s favorite songs from High School Musical and by Miley Cyrus. Darci attends Kalie-Ann\u2019s dance recitals while Kalie-Ann supports Darci at the Special Olympics where she competes in the softball throw, 50 and 100 meter runs and the standing long jump.<\/p>\n

The friendship has changed both of them, so much so that Kalie-Ann wrote her college essay about their connection. Though Kalie-Ann is going off to college in the fall, she has already hand-picked the person she wants to take over as Darci\u2019s Best Buddy when she graduates. She\u2019s not leaving her best friend to just anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that we\u2019ve both opened up each other\u2019s social circles,\u201d Kalie-Ann said, adding she met students in the special education program through Darci that she wouldn\u2019t have otherwise met. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely been a two-way street in terms of making friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kalie-Ann stressed the two-way street not only applies to their expanded social circle but also their prom experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want anyone to think I\u2019m helping her by taking her,\u201d she said. \u201cI am privileged and honored to take her to the prom. I\u2019m the lucky one here, I get to spend this amazing night with her. It\u2019s such a blessing and a gift.\u201d<\/p>\n

Darci\u2019s father Bruce said the friendship has been wonderful for her. \u201cKalie\u2019s basically a big sister and best friend all in one,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Though she seemed shy that day in class, Darci\u2019s true personality emerged soon after the two girls started hanging out. \u201cOnce you get to know Darci, she is full of spunk and sass and attitude,\u201d Kalie-Ann said.<\/p>\n

Darci let some of that spunk show as a newspaper photographer took her picture while she got ready for prom.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet my good side,\u201d she told the photographer deadpan.<\/p>\n

Bev was worried that Darci might not go to the prom and was thrilled when Kalie-Ann asked her to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like girl\u2019s night out,\u201d Bev said. \u201cIt\u2019s awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

To read the full story click here.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There was one person Darci Joyce couldn\u2019t wait to see as she got ready for her junior prom Saturday afternoon. \u201cKalie\u2019s here,\u201d Darci yelled as she bolted out the front door of her home and into the arms of her best friend Kalie-Ann Nassoura. The two embraced repeatedly before they made their way inside. \u201cI\u2019m so excited,\u201d Kalie-Ann, a senior who lives in Stratham said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":93802,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"news-single-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[676],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-93801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-archive"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies - Best Buddies International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies - Best Buddies International\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"There was one person Darci Joyce couldn\u2019t wait to see as she got ready for her junior prom Saturday afternoon. \u201cKalie\u2019s here,\u201d Darci yelled as she bolted out the front door of her home and into the arms of her best friend Kalie-Ann Nassoura. The two embraced repeatedly before they made their way inside. \u201cI\u2019m so excited,\u201d Kalie-Ann, a senior who lives in Stratham said.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Best Buddies International\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-05-30T14:18:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-04-15T21:17:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SeaCoast-online.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"700\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"462\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-05-30T14:18:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-04-15T21:17:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/\"},\"wordCount\":852,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SeaCoast-online.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News Archive\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/\",\"name\":\"\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies - Best Buddies International\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SeaCoast-online.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-05-30T14:18:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-04-15T21:17:25+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SeaCoast-online.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SeaCoast-online.jpg\",\"width\":700,\"height\":462},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/\",\"name\":\"Best Buddies International\",\"description\":\"Best Buddies is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Best Buddies International\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/best-buddies-logo2.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/best-buddies-logo2.png\",\"width\":115,\"height\":113,\"caption\":\"Best Buddies International\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/author\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies - Best Buddies International","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies - Best Buddies International","og_description":"There was one person Darci Joyce couldn\u2019t wait to see as she got ready for her junior prom Saturday afternoon. \u201cKalie\u2019s here,\u201d Darci yelled as she bolted out the front door of her home and into the arms of her best friend Kalie-Ann Nassoura. The two embraced repeatedly before they made their way inside. \u201cI\u2019m so excited,\u201d Kalie-Ann, a senior who lives in Stratham said.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/","og_site_name":"Best Buddies International","article_published_time":"2017-05-30T14:18:05+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-04-15T21:17:25+00:00","og_image":[{"width":700,"height":462,"url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SeaCoast-online.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/"},"author":{"name":"","@id":""},"headline":"\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies","datePublished":"2017-05-30T14:18:05+00:00","dateModified":"2021-04-15T21:17:25+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/"},"wordCount":852,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SeaCoast-online.jpg","articleSection":["News Archive"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/","name":"\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies - Best Buddies International","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SeaCoast-online.jpg","datePublished":"2017-05-30T14:18:05+00:00","dateModified":"2021-04-15T21:17:25+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SeaCoast-online.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/SeaCoast-online.jpg","width":700,"height":462},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/2017\/05\/30\/best-prom-ever-exeter-high-best-buddies\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"\u2018Best prom\u2019 ever for Exeter High Best Buddies"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/","name":"Best Buddies International","description":"Best Buddies is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#organization","name":"Best Buddies International","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/best-buddies-logo2.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/best-buddies-logo2.png","width":115,"height":113,"caption":"Best Buddies International"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"","url":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/author\/"}]}},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2025-04-13 11:26:19","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category"},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/55"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93801"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":148644,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93801\/revisions\/148644"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93802"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bestbuddies.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}