High school teens surprise friend with Down syndrome with an unforgettable prom experience

Day in and day out, our lives are defined by the company of our friends. A high school student with Down syndrome, Annie Schlarmann, now has the greatest prom gift after her friends decide to skip the ceremony and instead, spend time with her, according to a report from Sunny Skyz.

Annie, a junior at Monticello High School, has been eagerly anticipating her first prom. Like many of her friends, she dreamt of what the evening might hold and was in line to attend this special school event. However, her prom night aspirations took a small setback as she couldn't find a partner.

But there was a twist in the tale - her friends went out of their way to ensure she did not spend the night alone. When Annie's friends learned that she didn't have a date for the prom, they decided to take matters into their own hands. 

Maria McCarthy, one of Annie's close friends, spoke to KWWL 7 about this gesture and said, "We heard that Annie didn't have anyone to go with for prom, and we thought it would be so fun to make her night special." She added, "So, we all got together, and we got to do so much fun stuff like we went out to eat, we went axe throwing, and we got ice cream."

In a YouTube video shared by the publication, we see pictures of Annie enjoying her day out with her friends, having fun and making the most of her time. For Annie's mother, Sue Schlarmann, this gesture means the world. Expressing her gratefulness, she said, "As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, this was everything I could hope for."

Overwhelmed with emotions, Sue added, "When you have a child with a disability, you're always hoping they're going to get the same opportunities as your other children. To have Annie's friends show such genuine kindness and invite her to prom is truly something special." On the other hand, Annie struggled to hold back tears as she shared her feelings, "I had a lot of fun last night because my friends are nice to me, and I love them. They mean a lot to me."

This wholesome gesture by Annie's friends celebrates their friendship and spreads an important message about how kindness knows no boundaries. For Annie, the prom night turned out to be even more special than she could have ever imagined. 

Editor's note: This article was originally published on April 23, 2024. It has since been updated.