By Zoe Vanatter

Silent Bravery is something that runs deep in the veins of August ‘Gus’ Elwell 22′ who as a sophomore, is already involved in one of our schools many selfless and kind clubs, Best Buddies. Best Buddies is a club that helps kids with disabilities such as autism, for example, find their way through high school whether it’s looking after their needs, making friends, helping them with their work or simply just being their friend. Too those kids their Best Buddies are superheroes, and Elwell flys his own cape but, in silence. That is unlike most sophomores to the societal eye that labels sophomores things like; rude, selfish, mean, and lazy.

Gus is not a single one of these generalizations that many are in love with making. In his dedication to joining Best Buddies, lies the maturity that he has shown that not many this young are thought to possess. When he was asked why he chose to join Best Buddies and what motivates him to continue onward with his love for the club and the people in it, he gave a very heartwarming and thoughtful response.”Well, last year, I connected with a student that was special needs,” Elwell said. “He’s since graduated, but he helped me. I guess he helped me become a better person. So looking out for him and making sure that he’s okay helped me a lot. And I think I see it as, like kind of a form of therapy. So I’m helping these kids. And they are in need of help. I just think that someone should be there for them.” Elwell seemed very touched by his experiences with helping someone to the point of where it’s therapeutic for him, which I’m sure many would agree with, It’s a wonderful feeling when you know you’ve helped someone.

Steve Merkle, one of the many faculty members involved with Best Buddies, helped shed some light on how much Best Buddies really does for those with special needs, ” Best Buddies was founded by Anthony Shriver, in 1989, it’s a national non-profit organization that started as small groups in colleges and slowly trickled down into high schools. The mission of Best Buddies is to try and help students with special needs make life long friendships even sometimes after they’ve graduated and we do that by hosting events and parties where that can happen.” Steve also expressed his high hopes for Elwell joining the team and made it known that he was very happy that Gus joined.

When it comes down to occupation, choosing one to go into can be a daunting task, but not for Gus who is set on becoming a police officer or joining the military in the future. A bold decision for such a young man as is that dream to move to Switzerland so he can be within reach of the mountains. Mountains holding an ultimately special place in his life, both representing the hardships his family has faced in the form of his older stepbrother Aaron, who he idolizes.

“He’s just gone through like so much, there was one point in his childhood-He’s 24 right now, he teaches in Madrid, Spain, he teaches English. And he has just- like there was a point in his childhood where they were living off of, bread. He has since graduated high school, helped kids learn English at a, at an orphanage in South Africa and taught them how to surf and stuff and graduated college and now he teaches in Spain. And I just think his story is something I carry with me.” August 22′ spoke with such a truly motivated aura, hope was very potent in his voice.

August does not know what the future holds for him, but that does not deter him. He will keep moving forward without further delay, his adaptability and courageous heart will make him unstoppable. Look out world, you have a protective heart on the battlefield