A Year of Exciting Achievements
Through Communities for Life, Emma Pequignot is turning passions into accomplishments—like co-writing a book and mastering self-care—while inspiring us all to expect more.
Emma has been a dedicated Buddy Up for Life (BUFL) Student and Athlete for over a decade, but she says this past year has been the most exciting yet.
In July, Emma published a children’s book that she co-wrote last year with her Communities for Life class. The book, It’s Cool to Have Different Disabilities, has since sold hundreds of copies.
“Honestly, it’s been a wild ride,” said Emma. “I got interviewed on a radio station. It all makes me feel really excited.”
Self-Care and Friendship
Authoring a book is just one of many skills Emma has learned in Communities for Life, which she considers her favorite Buddy Up for Life class.
“I get to hang out with my friends and learn about new stuff,” said Emma. “I learn about safety, self-care, and other things.”
Amy Pequignot, Emma’s mother, shares Emma’s enthusiasm for Communities for Life and appreciates the Life Skills pillar as a whole.
“There is such a variety of life skills addressed in the classes and she has made such close friends in the program,” Amy said. “This program has really given her a taste of independent adulthood that I could not have given her on my own.”
This month, Emma and her fellow Communities students have been exploring key aspects of self-care, such as connection, mindfulness, and daily movement. To support their growth, they are using a self-care tracker to monitor their behaviors and cultivate sustainable habits.
“I know each time I can check off the things that I’ve done already,” Emma said. “When I check something off, I feel like I accomplished something.”
Emma says her favorite form of self-care is connection, as it allows her to talk to and spend time with friends and loved ones.
“I love to see how I can connect with my friends and peers in different ways,” said Emma.
Expect More
Throughout her experiences with Buddy Up for Life, Emma continues to embody the “Expect More” philosophy.
“It is programs like BUFL that taught me as a parent that I could expect more out of Emma. BUFL programs have also taught Emma that she could expect more from herself,” Amy said.
“We have both learned that Emma is capable of so much more than either of us anticipated.”
When asked what the philosophy means to her, Emma answered decisively.
“Go all out. Life and beyond.”
Click the links below to check out each Communities for Life book, authored by Buddy Up for Life Students!
It’s Cool to Have Different Disabilities! By Emma Pequignot and Julia Truby
Chase, the Sea Turtle by Will Gibson
Love, Loss, Life by Maddie Ford
It’s Time Travel TIme! By Anna Dunlope