Partners in PE! It’s more than just a class that makes me late to AP Euro (sorry, Mr. Schlenke).

Back in August, during my first week of senior year, my friend Alyssa told me about an alternative PE class that Miss Susan Pilarski needed help with.

Curious, I asked Miss P what it was all about. She said it was a low-stakes gym class where my friends and I could get PE credit while helping the Best-Buddies learning support students get their physical education.

I pounced on the idea. I’ll be honest: at first I only wanted to join to get out of my previous gym class and avoid the dodgeball-filled-danger-zone that we all know too well.

But what I didn’t know is how much I would love the whole experience and the friendships I would make with the buddies.

In this class, we take it pretty slow. Our days are filled with balloon-badminton, scavenger hunts, soccer-ball taps, group walking, kickball, freeze tag, and even cup stacking.

Each partner is assigned a buddy, and we rotate our pairs every two weeks. During this time, we are able to get to know each other and form friendships.

Along with our gym pursuits, we also practice our conversation and motor skills through days dedicated to interpersonal skills and get-to-know-me activities like drawing.

Although I originally joined to avoid getting hit with flying balls, these kids have become really important to me (and I know my friends feel the same).

Day 2 period 6 has become a lot more to me than just a class I dissociate in to get a PE credit.

I’ve learned so many lessons from this class, and patience has been the most valuable one.

This experience has genuinely aged me 20 years mentally (in a good way) and gave me so much more maturity.

These kids are all so kind and special in their own ways, and learning about each of their personalities and discovering their strengths has been so fun to watch, and I’m so happy to go off to college with this experience under my belt.

My friends and I in the class even got the chance to join special events like the Special Olympics Bowling in the fall (and hopefully again in the spring).

Last week, to celebrate the end of first semester, we got to play cosmic (glow-in-the-dark) bowling in the middle school gym. I can safely say that rolling a glowing ball while covered in glow-stick jewelry is an experience I’ve never had before (and wouldn’t have gotten without this class).

These opportunities would not have come to me without this class. I even got a lot closer with Miss P (and who wouldn’t want that?).

So, I humbly write this article to beckon rising juniors and seniors to join partners next school year! If it fits in your schedule, I urge you to give it a try!

We only have about seven partners in the class and all of them are seniors. Miss P needs all the help she can get, and who wouldn’t want work with these kids?

Senior partner Addison Mack proclaimed, “The people make the class!”

Especially rising seniors, why not try a new and exciting opportunity to change up your senior year?

This class is a fun challenge and a lot different than simply joining the Best Buddies Club. But it isn’t for the weak, and you shouldn’t join if you don’t have the people skills or patience. Although fun, it’s a commitment (and the kids deserve dedicated partners).