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Buddy up for friends

Dear Editor:People always ask me what I like best about Aspen, and the immediate answers are, of course, the skiing, the snow, the small town and all the superficial details. However one of my favorite qualities of Aspen, and the entire Roaring Fork Valley, is The Buddy Program. I have been a Big Buddy since I moved to Aspen in 2003, and I have truly been touched by mentorship. As a mentor, I encourage a brighter future, whether it is the next day, the next month or the next decade, for my Little Buddy.I joined The Buddy Program for the very simple desire to make friends. As soon as I joined this organization, the wonderful staff at The Buddy Program welcomed me and paired me with two amazing young women. My Little Buddy isn’t a commitment on my calendar, she is my friend, my hot chocolate break, my ice skating partner and my fellow movie critic. She and I chat about her friends, my job and our dream vacations. I sometimes wonder if she “needs” me, but I have realized, in little ways, that I need her.As January is National Mentoring Month, I encourage each and every adult to think about what he or she has to offer to an adolescent in the valley. Mentoring is energizing, fulfilling and fun! If you would like to learn more about it, please attend the Recruitment Party for The Buddy Program today (Tuesday, Jan. 23) from 5-7 p.m., at the Hickory House. You may just make a friend.Betheny HerrAspen