This is the first in a series of articles highlighting outstanding youth at Fort Riley in celebration of Month of the Military Child.
FORT RILEY, Kan. -- It doesn't matter what the other kids say -- being a good friend is more important than being cool, according to 16-year-old Darby Price.
Price is a sophomore at Manhattan High School, and one of her best friends is autistic. In fact, many of her friends are enrolled in special needs classes. But Darby doesn't care what their diagnosis is, she said. To her, it's as simple as seeing a need for friendship and fulfilling it.
This attitude started in ninth grade, when she spotted a girl a little older than her in the hallway between classes. Instead of chatting with friends, the girl was all alone and looked uncomfortable, Darby said.
"I just went over and tried to start a conversation with her. I didn't understand why the other kids wouldn't talk to her. Later, someone told me that she was autistic, but I couldn't tell at all," Darby said.
The situation frustrated her, she said, because she could see there was more to this girl than the label the other kids used to define her. Darby said she had to make a choice that day, and she chose to talk to everyone.
"During passing periods, they're just off by themselves. I just try to start a conversation, like, 'hey, how are you,' (or) 'how's your day going,'" she said.
A year and a half later, Darby's investment has grown and blossomed into many friendships. She is known throughout her school as the person to call if a special needs child is upset or not doing well, said her mother, Capt. Rhonda Price, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. She and her husband, Maj. Greg Price, HHC, 1st HBCT, have been married for 24 years.
"Darby talks to all of them -- hugs them, too. If a student is struggling or having a bad day, the (paraprofessionals) and mentors will call Darby from class. She calms them down," Price said. "I'm proud of her because it takes a special person to do something like that."
"I feel happy to help someone other than myself," Darby said.
Recently, she was selected by the MHS staff to attend a special needs awareness clinic at Kansas State University with 20 other students, where she learned more about the mentor-mentee bond and activities to try with her friends.
"A lot of (the clinic) applied to my friends at school, and they were there with me, so we got to try the activities together," Darby said.
She also assisted the Youth Empowerment Academy from Topeka with leadership and interpersonal skills training for MHS, Price said.
In addition to volunteering her time to help her friends, Darby also is involved in physical education and weight lifting classes, she said.
She's been playing basketball competitively for about six years -- a sport she says she "fell in love with" and hopes will be a way to earn a scholarship to college.
Darby plays for the MHS Lady Indians and the Amateur Athlete University Showcase team in Lawrence in the off season.
She also plays soccer and tennis, bowls, runs track and is in the Spanish club at school.
An avid community volunteer with her brother, Jordan, Darby has completed many hours of service at several church soup kitchens, the Flint Hills Bread Basket, Salvation Army and Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan.
In 2011, Darby received a nomination for the Kansas State High School Activities Association student of the year. Last December, she was named student of the month by the Kiwanis Club.
With both parents on active duty at Fort Riley, Darby said being a military kid can be difficult because of the deployments and having to leave friends behind when the Family moves.
"Other than that, it's not much different," she said. "It's a little awkward at first when (my parents and I) reunite, but I try to remember what it was like the day we said goodbye and just talk like that until it feels normal again."
With the use of Skype and email, the Family has been able to stay in touch by sending pictures and videos of their activities, Darby said.
After experiencing eastern North Carolina when the Family was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., Darby decided to return to the state to study marine biology. The University of North Carolina Wilmington is at the top of her list of colleges, she said.
For more information about Month of the Military Child and upcoming events at Fort Riley, visit www.rileymwr.com.
Social Sharing