High School Student Invites Girl with Down Syndrome to Prom Fulfilling His Childhood Promise to Her

When two youngsters met in elementary school, they developed a friendship that stood the test of time. Although they lost touch after sixth grade, their paths crossed years later, just in time for high school prom and the fulfillment of an extraordinary promise.

Ben Moser and Mary Lapkowicz shared a special connection that went back all the way to their elementary school days. They first met as second graders, and it was only a matter of time before they became the best of buddies.

Everyone, including their classmates and teachers, saw how protective Ben was of Mary and how he always tried to help and take care of her. He made a conscious effort to include her in all the school games and activities so that she didn’t feel left out or miss out on the fun.

Looking Out for His friend

The youngsters’ teacher, Tracey Spogli, recalled how Ben could charm Mary and put a smile on her face. She said his genuine concern for Mary stemmed not only from his words but also his actions. Spogli added that Ben always tried to make his friend feel included and happy.

When Ben saw his childhood friend, he was reminded of the promise he had made to her as a fourth-grader.

A Fourth-Grader’s Promise

When the children reached fourth grade, their friendship became much more profound, warming the hearts of anyone who saw them together. After the school year concluded, Ben witnessed his cousin’s prom walk and went home to his mother with an unusual request—he would take Mary to prom one day.

Ben made a promise as a fourth-grader, and while nobody would have held it against him if he didn’t abide by his words, only time would tell how things were meant to unfold. He and Mary remained good friends until sixth grade when she transferred schools and didn’t see him for years.

Their Reunion

After their paths diverged, Mary started helping her dad, a math professor, with her new school’s football team in the Central Dauphin school district. On the other hand, Ben, passionate about football, became a quarterback for Susquehanna Township High School.

When the universe conspired in their favor, their paths converged again nearly seven years later when their rival schools faced each other in a football match. As soon as Ben saw his childhood friend, he was reminded of the promise he had made to her as a fourth-grader.

The Promposal

Time was clearly of the essence, as the teenagers’ much-awaited reunion happened just in time for the senior prom. With his loved ones’ assistance, Ben planned a heart-melting “promposal” for his dear friend, involving balloons and his heartfelt sentiments.

In the presence of their families, Ben asked Mary to be his prom date, and her answer wasn’t hard to guess. Mary admitted that she was taken aback because she had planned to attend the evening with a few of her friends. She said having a real prom date would make the night much more memorable.

The Teenagers’ Thoughts about Each Other

But most importantly, Mary, who had Down Syndrome, was touched that her school friend remembered his promise after all those years and was ready to fulfill it. Recalling their thoughts about each other from the good old school days, Ben added:

“I thought Mary was really cool.”

Meanwhile, Mary’s sentiments were no different than Ben’s, and she called him sweet. On May 8, 2015, the Pennsylvania teens stole hearts with their infectious smiles and matching outfits. Mary wore a corsage of roses on her wrist to complete her look, while Ben gave the finishing touches with a white boutonniere.

Fulfilling the Promise

As the happy teenagers posed for photographs, their parents were overcome with indescribable emotions. Ben’s mom, Linda Moser, penned an emotional post where she expressed how proud she was of her big-hearted son for putting people first and making them feel special. She also wrote:

“Today with joyful tears in my eyes and down my face I watched a promise made, 7 years ago, to a beautiful girl fulfilled.”

An Enduring Friendship

Neither Ben nor Mary thought there was anything peculiar about their companionship. In fact, Ben noted that he never treated Mary differently because she had Down Syndrome and emphasized that differences between people should help bring them together rather than drifting them apart.

A year later, the teenagers’ story became a viral sensation after it was picked up by multiple news outlets and shared all over social media. While their families were concerned that the widespread attention might attract undue criticism for Mary, it was the last thing on Ben’s mind. Regarding the story, his mom shared:

“It’s not just a football quarterback or a girl with Down syndrome, but a friendship that withstood the test of time.”

A Powerful Story

However, the prom story’s powerful impact significantly changed Mary and Ben’s lives. It enabled Mary to meet her favorite musician, Nick Jonas and became an integral part of Ben’s biography submitted for the Mini Max Award from the Maxwell Football Club.

After high school, Ben planned to enroll in East Stroudsburg University to study business while Mary began considering post-secondary education coupled with specialized college courses. When asked if he would like to keep in touch and cross paths with Mary in the future, Ben said he would try to meet her whenever possible.

A Lovely Prom Tale

Similarly, Mary, who had a keen interest in science, math, and football, expressed that she would love to see Ben. But regardless of where life took them, their heartwarming friendship and phenomenal prom tale would forever keep them connected.

If you enjoyed reading this story, please don’t forget to share your feedback on Facebook. In the meantime, click here to read another story about a 19-year-old sister who took her special needs twin brother with no date to his prom.

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