The Buddy Bench

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “This is a place where you can have new friendships and be social and have fun with other people,” says Sophia Holmes, student At eleven years old, Sophia Holmes is Student Council Co-President at White Knoll Elementary School. “I have to use leadership as a big part of my role,” says Holmes A big part of her role this school year was helping to create the “Buddy Bench.” It’s no ordinary bench. Instead, it’s a place for friendships. “You can sit at the bench and hopefully a friend will come your way,” says Holmes. And it holds the fingerprints of those who worked to make it happen. “The whole student council helped on it and we signed our, we did our hand print and we signed our names on it,” says Holmes The entire school can use the bench. School counselors say the bench was all the students’ idea and the project stands out from those past. “This one is so special because it’s one that is going to last,” says Michelle Privette, School Counselor